Join thousands of students achieving their dreams with expert-led courses.
Join free and unlock everything on EasyShiksha.
Takes less than 3 seconds โ no password needed
Please enter a valid email address.
Checking your emailโฆ
Almost done โ just verify your number so we can send course updates and certificates.
Used only for verification & updates
Incorrect OTP. Please try again.
Takes less than 10 seconds
Please select your country.
Please select your state.
Bikitaite-infused cellulose separator enhances lithium-ion transport, boosting the high-rate performance of NCM90 while stabilizing the lithium-metal anode
CHUNGCHEONG PROVINCE, South Korea, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium-metal batteries paired with high-nickel cathodes, such as NCM90, offer high energy density, but rapid cycling typically triggers anode dendrite growth, electrolyte degradation, and short circuits. While separator engineering is traditionally used to stabilize the lithium-metal anode, researchers discovered that modifying the separator also substantially improves high-rate performance at the cathode.
To achieve this, researchers led by Professor Sun-Yul Ryou at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University, Republic of Korea, developed a cellulose-based separator infused with bikitaite zeolite, called CBT. The separator combines the porous structure of cellulose with the ion-transport properties of bikitaite, forming interconnected pathways for lithium-ion movement.
This paper was made available online on May 28, 2026, and was published in Volume 36, Issue 54 of the journal Advanced Functional Materialsย on July 6, 2026.ย
The CBT separator exhibited an ionic conductivity of 3.45 ร 10โปยณ S cmโปยน and a lithium-ion transference number of 0.742. These properties enabled rapid and more uniform lithium-ion transport through the separator, reducing polarization and facilitating electrochemical reactions under demanding high-rate conditions.
"Our results show that battery performance can be improved not only through new cathode and anode materials, but also through separator engineering. What was particularly interesting was that the effect of the modified separator extended beyond the lithium-metal anode and significantly improved the high-rate performance of the NCM90 cathode,"ย explains Prof. Ryou.
This effect became increasingly evident as the discharge rate increased. At 1C, cells with the CBT and conventional polyethylene separators both delivered approximately 197 mAh gโปยน. At 2C, the capacities were 187 and 165 mAh gโปยน, respectively. At 4C, the difference widened substantially: the NCM90 cathode delivered 163 mAh gโปยน with CBT compared to 115 mAh gโปยน with the conventional separator, corresponding to an improvement of approximately 42%.
At the same time, the separator retained the benefits traditionally sought from separator engineering on the lithium-metal side. Real-time observation of lithium deposition showed no visible dendrite growth in cells equipped with CBT. Instead, lithium formed a smoother, more compact layer and was removed more uniformly during stripping.
The CBT separator delivered strong long-term stability in high-rate Li||NCM90 cells. It retained roughly 60% capacity after 2,500 cycles at 2C/4C, around 68.9% after 150 cold cycles at โ25 ยฐC, and held up at 200 ยฐC. Unlike costly electrode redesigns, separator modifications integrate easily into existing production lines. This makes it a practical way to improve performance without changing cell chemistry, though testing in commercial pouch or cylindrical formats is still needed.
"Functional separators should not be viewed only as barriers that separate the two electrodes or as a means of protecting the lithium-metal anode. By controlling ion transport across the cell, they could become an important design element for simultaneously achieving high energy density and high-rate operation in next-generation batteries,"ย concludes Prof. Ryou.
Reference
Title of original paper: Fast ChargeโDischarge of LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05ย Enabled by a Bikitaite-Infused Separator for Li Metal Batteries
Journal: Advanced Functional Materials
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.75036ย
About Hanbat National University (HBNU)ย
Founded in 1927 and based in Daejeon, South Korea, HBNU is a public institution renowned for its engineering programs and strong industryโacademia collaboration.
https://www.hanbat.ac.kr/eng/ย
Media Contact
Seyoung Jang
82-42-828-8461
422476@email4pr.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hanbat-university-researchers-develop-a-separator-to-improve-lithium-metal-battery-performance-302877395.html
SOURCE Hanbat National University
Discover thousands of colleges and courses, enhance skills with online courses and internships, explore career alternatives, and stay updated with the latest educational news..
Gain high-quality, filtered student leads, prominent homepage ads, top search ranking, and a separate website. Let us actively enhance your brand awareness.
Download EasyShiksha Mobile Apps from Android Play Store, Apple App Store, Amazon App Store, and Jio STB.
1 million+ย learned on the EasyShiksha App
Trusted by Standards & Global Compliance Frameworks
Built under internationally recognized standards for quality, information security, educational excellence and business continuity.
ISO 9001:2015 | ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | ISO 21001:2018 | ISO 22301:2019 | DPIIT Recognized Startup | MSME Registered
