As the electric vehicle and energy storage system (ESS) markets experience rapid growth, the development of next-generation batteries capable of surpassing the energy density limitations of existing lithium-ion batteries is drawing significant attention. Among these, the 'lithium-air battery' is considered a technology with the potential to dramatically increase electric vehicle range, as it can theoretically achieve an energy density more than 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries. However, a key challenge to commercialization has been the limited active catalytic sites that promote oxygen reactions during charging and discharging, resulting in slow reaction rates and short lifespans.
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Oh Sang-rok) A joint research team led by Dr. Jeong Sohee from the Center for Extreme Materials Research at KIST and Dr. Lee Kwang-hee from the Advanced Materials Processing Center at the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE, President Kim Jin-kyun) has successfully developed a catalyst technology that maximizes the surface activity of the two-dimensional nanomaterial 'tungsten diselenide (WSe₂)'. A joint research team, led by Dr. Sohee Jeong of the Extreme Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST; President Oh Sang-Rok) and Dr. Gwang-Hee Lee of the Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Center at the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE; President Jin Kyun Kim), has successfully developed a catalyst technology that maximizes the surface activity of the two-dimensional nanomaterial tungsten diselenide (WSe₂). This innovation simultaneously enhances the performance and durability of lithium-air batteries. The core of this technology lies in converting the entire 'basal plane' of the two-dimensional material-which previously participated minimally in chemical reactions-into an active catalytic site.
The research team employed a strategy of substituting platinum (Pt) atoms into the layered structure of the two-dimensional nanomaterial (WSe₂), intentionally creating 'atomic-level vacancies' where selenium (Se) atoms were missing from the surface. This vacancy acts as a key reaction site that strongly adsorbs and activates oxygen molecules, significantly enhancing the reaction rates of both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The technological significance is particularly great because it maximizes the utility of the two-dimensional material by converting the entire basal plane into an active site without reducing conductivity.
The lithium-air battery incorporating this catalyst demonstrated a stable lifespan exceeding 550 cycles even under rapid charge-discharge conditions (1 C-rate). Furthermore, it demonstrated superior stability and durability compared to existing high-cost commercial catalysts, such as Pt/C and ruthenium oxide (RuO₂), across a wide range of charge-discharge rates from 0.1C to 3C. This result indicates the potential for realizing next-generation batteries with minimal performance degradation even under high-speed charging conditions.
This achievement is significant as it presents a new design approach that overcomes the structural limitations of two-dimensional materials by utilizing the entire material as a catalytic active site. It is expected to contribute to cost reduction and performance enhancement in energy applications requiring high-performance catalysts, including lithium-air batteries, water electrolysis, and fuel cells. Notably, the research was led by a domestic team with participation from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the United States, enhancing the study's credibility and global competitiveness. The research team plans to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic lithium-air battery technology through future technology transfer and commercialization research.
Dr. Sohee Jeong of KIST stated, "This research is significant in that it presents an atomic-level control strategy that utilizes the previously untapped basal plane while maintaining the structural advantages of two-dimensional materials." Dr. Gwang-Hee Lee of IAE added, "It has dramatically secured the rapid charge-discharge performance that was a major challenge for lithium-air batteries, accelerating the commercialization timeline for high-power mobility power systems."
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KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://kist.re.kr/eng/index.do
This research was conducted with support from the KIST Future Key Technology Program funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, the Individual Basic Research Project (RS-2022-NR070696), the Pioneer Research Center Program (RS-2024-00431320), and the Global TOP Strategic Research Group Project (GTL24052-100). The research findings were published in the latest issue of the international journal Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports (IF 26.8, JCR top 2.2%).
Materials Science and Engineering R Reports
Atomic-scale vacancy engineering unlocks basal-plane catalytic activity in metallic WSe2 for reversible oxygen electrocatalysis
19-Jan-2026