Addressing this critical obstacle, a notable joint research effort spearheaded by Dr. Sohee Jeong at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Dr. Gwang-Hee Lee at the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE) has unveiled a novel catalyst technology. This innovation focuses on fully activating the surface area of tungsten diselenide (WSe₂), a two-dimensional nanomaterial, which until now exhibited minimal chemical reactivity beyond its edge sites. By transforming the typically inert basal planes of WSe₂ into catalytically active sites, the team has succeeded in significantly enhancing both the catalytic performance and the durability of lithium-air batteries.

The researchers’ groundbreaking approach involves atomic-scale engineering through platinum (Pt) atom substitution within the layered WSe₂ structure and the creation of deliberate selenium (Se) vacancies at the atomic level. These engineered vacancies serve as potent catalytic hotspots that strongly adsorb oxygen molecules, facilitating both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during discharge and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during charge. This dual enhancement of ORR and OER kinetics simultaneously boosts battery efficiency and longevity. Crucially, this activation does not compromise the intrinsic electrical conductivity of the metallic WSe₂, maintaining rapid electron transport essential for high-performance energy devices.

Implementing this defect-engineered catalyst in lithium-air battery prototypes demonstrated exceptional practical benefits. The batteries achieved a stable operational lifespan exceeding 550 charge-discharge cycles at a fast rate of 1 C, a substantial improvement over previous benchmarks. Additionally, the catalyst outperformed established commercial alternatives such as Pt/C and ruthenium oxide (RuO₂), maintaining superior durability and stability across a wide spectrum of charge-discharge rates from 0.1 C up to 3 C. This resilience under dynamic operational conditions speaks to the catalyst’s potential for enabling next-generation batteries capable of withstanding the rigors of rapid charging and discharging without significant performance degradation.

This research not only advances lithium-air battery technology but also signals a paradigm shift in material design strategies for two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. Typically, the basal planes of 2D materials like WSe₂ are chemically inert, limiting their catalytic utility to edge sites only. By turning the entire basal plane into catalytically active regions through precise vacancy engineering, the team has dramatically expanded the functional surface area without losing electrical performance. This conceptual and technical innovation can be adapted to a wide range of catalytic processes, heralding new applications in water splitting, fuel cells, and other energy conversion technologies that demand high-performance catalysts.

The success of this atomic-level control strategy underscores the importance of combining structural integrity with high catalytic activity—two attributes often at odds in catalytic material design. Maintaining the layer structure of WSe₂ ensures excellent electronic pathways, while the carefully introduced point defects enhance chemical reactivity. Together, these modifications synergistically improve overall electrochemical performance. Such advancements exemplify the evolving frontier of nanomaterials research, where precision controls at the atomic scale unlock previously inaccessible functional properties.

Moreover, this collaborative research included contributions from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the United States, enhancing the global scientific credibility and competitiveness of the work. The team’s efforts pave the way for robust technology transfer and commercialization pathways, emphasizing the strategic importance of domestic innovation in competing global battery technology markets. By harnessing advanced materials engineering at the atomic scale, this work accelerates the timeline towards viable lithium-air battery commercialization for automotive and stationary energy storage applications.

From a practical perspective, deploying such catalysts in lithium-air batteries could significantly reduce costs compared to the reliance on expensive platinum group metals. The approach of utilizing defect engineering to activate previously inert planes offers a scalable and economically viable method to maximize material utility. This aligns well with demands for sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions that do not compromise performance. Industry stakeholders and research communities alike are likely to focus attention on further development and optimization of this promising technology.

Dr. Sohee Jeong commented on the significance of this advancement, emphasizing that the research represents a major leap forward by unlocking basal plane reactivity while preserving the structural advantages of 2D materials. Dr. Gwang-Hee Lee also highlighted the catalyst’s exceptional capacity to support rapid charge and discharge cycles, a key requirement for high-power mobility systems such as electric vehicles. Together, their insights reflect the broader implications for catalysis and energy storage technologies that rely on both chemical and electronic optimization at the nanoscale.

The scientific community now has a compelling example of how converging atomic-level manufacturing techniques and material science can overcome long-standing barriers in battery technology. Looking ahead, future research aims to further explore the mechanistic details of oxygen intermediate interactions with defect sites, enhance scalability of synthesis methods, and integrate these catalysts into commercial battery formats. Continued interdisciplinary efforts combining materials science, electrochemistry, and engineering will be vital in translating these laboratory breakthroughs into real-world energy solutions.

Published in the prestigious journal Materials Science and Engineering R: Reports, this research not only pushes the frontier of catalyst design but also lays the groundwork for transformative applications across energy storage and conversion domains. As the demand for high-efficiency, durable, and cost-effective batteries grows exponentially with electrification trends worldwide, innovations like this atomic-scale vacancy engineering approach could be pivotal. Implementing such technologies heralds a future where electric vehicles have significantly extended range and energy systems achieve unprecedented robustness and efficiency.

In conclusion, the defect-engineered tungsten diselenide catalyst represents a quantum leap in the development of lithium-air batteries. By unlocking the full catalytic potential of two-dimensional basal planes, this work addresses core challenges of activity and stability that have constrained prior designs. The stable, rapid charge-discharge performance demonstrated signals a new era for high-performance, durable battery systems. This scientific milestone opens exciting avenues for fundamental research and practical energy applications, underpinning the sustainability ambitions of the coming decades.

Subject of Research: Lithium-air battery catalyst development via atomic-level defect engineering in two-dimensional tungsten diselenide (WSe₂).

Article Title: Atomic-scale vacancy engineering unlocks basal-plane catalytic activity in metallic WSe2 for reversible oxygen electrocatalysis.

News Publication Date: 19-Jan-2026.

Web References:
DOI: 10.1016/j.mser.2026.101190

Image Credits: Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

Keywords

Lithium-air battery, tungsten diselenide, WSe₂, two-dimensional materials, atomic vacancy engineering, platinum substitution, oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, electrocatalysis, energy storage, rapid charge-discharge, catalyst durability, nanomaterials, electrochemistry.

The breakthrough was achieved by scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), spearheaded by Prof. Nam-Soon Choi from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering alongside Prof. Seungbum Hong from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with Prof. Sang Kyu Kwak’s research group at Korea University. Their pioneering work focuses on solving the core issue of “interfacial instability” at the molecular level—an inherent instability between the electrode and electrolyte interfaces that triggers dendrite formation during charging cycles.

Interfacial instability constitutes a fundamental barrier: as the lithium ions move back and forth during battery operation, the electrode-electrolyte interface fails to maintain uniformity, leading to uneven lithium deposition. This non-uniform pattern culminates in sharp dendritic structures that compromise battery cyclability, trigger internal short circuits, and exacerbate thermal hazards. Overcoming this has been vital to harnessing the full promise of lithium-metal batteries for practical and safe electric vehicle applications.

The research team’s landmark solution introduces an “intelligent protective layer” that effectively guides lithium ion transport along the electrode surface with remarkable stability. This was achieved by incorporating thiophene molecules into the battery electrolyte, which then form a protective interfacial layer distinguished by its ability to dynamically rearrange its electronic structure. This responsive behavior is akin to an adaptive traffic control system that optimizes vehicle flow by adjusting lanes in real-time to changing conditions. Correspondingly, the charge distribution within the protective layer flexibly shifts in response to lithium ion movement, thereby crafting optimal conduction pathways that mitigate dendritic growth.

Utilizing advanced computational techniques such as density functional theory (DFT) simulations, the team was able to unravel the electronic interaction mechanisms responsible for this switchable polarity and conjugation in the thiophene-based interfacial layer. These theoretical insights aligned with experimental findings, confirming that the intelligent layer delivers superior stability compared to conventional commercial electrolyte additives, which often fail to prevent dendrite formation under stress conditions.

The team’s experimental validation, performed under rigorous fast-charging regimes, demonstrated an impressive suppression of dendrite development even when subjected to high current densities more than double what is typically regarded as “high current” in lithium-metal battery research. Specifically, the battery systems operated reliably under current densities exceeding 8 mA/cm²—a value closely simulating real-world electric vehicle fast charging, aggressive acceleration, and high-power output scenarios. This result directly tackles the long-standing challenge of enabling ultra-fast charging without compromising battery safety and longevity.

Complementing their computational modeling, in-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) allowed researchers to observe lithium deposition at the nanometer scale with unprecedented resolution. This direct observation under high current conditions unmistakably confirmed that lithium ions were being deposited and stripped uniformly across the electrode surface. Such mechanical stability verification underscores the mechanical integrity of the newly engineered interface, reassuring its robustness during repeated charge–discharge cycles that characterize electric vehicle battery use.

Importantly, the researchers highlighted the broad applicability of their protective layer technology. It can be seamlessly integrated with a variety of cathode materials currently dominant in the electric vehicle market, including lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄), lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂), and layered lithium nickel-cobalt-manganese oxides (LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2). This universality is a major advantage, ensuring that the benefits of enhanced stability and fast charging can be harnessed across multiple battery chemistries without restriction to niche systems.

The implications of this breakthrough extend well beyond conventional electric vehicles. The team envisions their technology playing a pivotal role in emerging applications requiring high-performance batteries, such as ultra-long-range EVs, urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, and next-generation high energy-density storage solutions. As the transportation sector moves toward electrification and energy systems demand higher power output coupled with rapid rechargeability, these advancements in interfacial engineering provide a critical enabler.

Prof. Nam-Soon Choi emphasized that their achievement transcends incremental material improvements. By focusing on the electronic structure design at the interface, the team has resolved the fundamental limitations that have long impeded lithium-metal battery commercialization. This foundational technology promises a new era in battery development, enabling electric vehicles that simultaneously achieve rapid charging times—within as short as 12 minutes—and extended battery lifespans to meet the rigorous demands of real-world use.

This groundbreaking research was published in the highly regarded materials and energy journal InfoMat on February 2, 2026. It represents the combined efforts of Jeong-A. Lee, Haneul Kang, Yoonhan Cho, Seong Hyeon Kweon, Seonghyun Kim, Syed Azkar UI Hasan, Minju Song, Saehun Kim, Eunji Kwon, Samuel Seo, Kyoung Han Ryu, Rama K. Vasudevan, Sang Kyu Kwak, Seungbum Hong, and Nam-Soon Choi. The project was supported in part by Hyundai Motor Company and the National Research Foundation of Korea’s mid-career researcher program—highlighting a collaborative push between academia and industry toward next-generation battery solutions.

By fundamentally addressing dendrite growth and interfacial instability through a polarity-switchable conjugated protective layer, this research sets a new benchmark in lithium-metal battery technology. It unlocks pathways for fast charging at unprecedented rates without compromising safety—ushering in a transformative chapter for electric vehicles and beyond that could reshape the future of energy storage worldwide.

Subject of Research: Not applicable

Article Title: Conjugation-mediated and polarity-switchable interfacial layers for fast cycling of lithium-metal batteries

News Publication Date: 2-Feb-2026

Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/inf2.70126

References: Lee J-A., Kang H., Cho Y., Kweon S. H., Kim S., Hasan S. A. U., Song M., Kim S., Kwon E., Seo S., Ryu K. H., Vasudevan R. K., Kwak S. K., Hong S., Choi N.-S. (2026). Conjugation-mediated and polarity-switchable interfacial layers for fast cycling of lithium-metal batteries. InfoMat. DOI: 10.1002/inf2.70126

Image Credits: Not provided

Keywords

Technology