poscofuturem

- Joint development of ‘anode-free lithium metal battery’ technology with 30–50% higher energy density and faster charging

- Synergies expected from POSCO Future M’s cathode material technology, Kumho Petrochemical’s high-performance carbon nanotubes, and BEI’s battery cell manufacturing expertise

- POSCO Future M: “We will unite our R&D capabilities to bring to fruition a next-generation battery that will reshape the market landscape”

POSCO Future M has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kumho Petrochemical and BEI to jointly develop anode-free lithium metal battery technology.

At the signing ceremony held on the 25th at the POSCO Center in Seoul, POSCO Future M, Kumho Petrochemical, and BEI agreed to pool their respective capabilities to develop high-performance next-generation batteries. This collaboration is part of the POSCO Group’s broader strategy to strengthen its competitiveness in next-generation battery materials and technology.

The ‘anode-free lithium metal battery’ that the three companies have agreed to develop is lightweight, making it well-suited for emerging markets such as drones and other advanced air mobility applications, high-performance electric vehicles, and robotics. By eliminating the anode material and utilizing the resulting space, the battery achieves an energy density 30–50% higher than conventional batteries. During charging, lithium ions from the cathode material deposit directly onto the metal surface of the current collector* rather than passing through an anode material, thereby enabling a charging rate more than twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

*Current Collector : A thin metal foil that serves as the pathway for electron movement during charging and discharging. Aluminum foil is typically used for the cathode, and copper foil for the anode.

Notably, the technology is compatible with existing production equipment, reducing capital investment, simplifying process steps, and lowering manufacturing costs.

In this collaboration, POSCO Future M will play a pivotal role in achieving breakthrough battery performance by leveraging its cathode material technology optimized for anode-free lithium metal batteries.

Kumho Petrochemical will use high-performance carbon nanotubes (CNTs)* as the electron-conducting material in the battery, dramatically improving both charging rate and cycle life. BEI brings to the partnership the manufacturing infrastructure and know-how required to translate these material technologies into finished battery cells. The three companies plan to continuously advance their technological maturity through joint development and technical collaboration.

*Carbon Nanotube (CNT): A next-generation carbon material formed in the shape of an extremely thin tube at the nanometer scale, characterized by high electrical conductivity that facilitates the smooth movement of electrons. One nanometer (nm) is one hundred-thousandth the thickness of a human hair.

Young-jun Hong, Head of the POSCO Future M Technology Research Laboratory, said, “This is a meaningful occasion on which three industry-leading technology companies have committed to collaborating on next-generation battery development,” and added, “We will unite our research and development capabilities to bring to fruition a next-generation battery that will reshape the market landscape.”

Building on the results of their joint development work, the three companies also plan to explore co-commercialization opportunities targeting emerging markets such as drones and robotics. The three companies also intend to leverage their combined strengths in the industry ecosystem for next-generation battery materials and cell technology to establish a leading position in the global high-performance battery market.