Commission for Solid-State Battery Pilot Facility Granted to SK
SK On, a leading South Korean battery manufacturer, is making strides in the field of solid-state batteries. The company's pilot plant, spanning approximately 4,600 square meters at the SK On Institute of Future Technology in Daejeon, is designed to develop sulfide-based cells and lithium metal batteries.
One of the key objectives of SK On is to increase the energy density of the cells. The company aims to produce cells with an energy density of 800 watt-hours per liter, with plans to further push this limit to 1,000 watt-hours per liter in the long term.
To achieve this, SK On claims that by combining material mixing, electrode design, and optimized pressing conditions, it can achieve the same advantages as the WIP method without its limitations. Notably, the plant does not require the warm isostatic pressing (WIP) process, which is considered complex and difficult to integrate into automated production lines.
In terms of extending the cycle life of these batteries, SK On has been collaborating with Solid Power, a US company in the field of solid-state batteries, since 2022. This collaboration has resulted in a significant improvement in the cycle life of the sulfide-based solid-state cells.
In 2025, SK On and Hanyang University reported an extension of the cycle life of these cells. The extension was achieved by adding a protective layer to lithium metal anodes, but the specific details of this protective layer are not provided.
The focus of the collaboration between SK On and Solid Power is not detailed in the provided text. However, since 2022, BMW has also collaborated with Solid Power to extend the cycle life of sulfide-based solid-state cells.
It's worth noting that the article does not mention any plans for commercialization of the extended cycle life technology. Furthermore, the article does not discuss any other methods or technologies used to extend the cycle life of solid-state batteries beyond the protective layer.
The pilot plant is part of SK On's efforts to advance prototype development and achieve commercialization by 2029, originally planned for 2030. The proprietary manufacturing technology used in the pilot plant is not specified in the provided text.
While the exact duration of the extended cycle life is not specified, the reported extension is a significant improvement in the field of solid-state batteries. As SK On continues its research and development, we can expect to see further advancements in this technology.
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