KIST and IAE Researchers Engineer Atomic Defects in Tungsten Diselenide to Unlock Tenfold Energy Density in Lithium Air Batteries

A KIST-IAE research team uses atomic-level defect control in WSe2 to activate 2D catalysts, enabling lithium-air batteries with 10x the energy of lithium-ion.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from National Research Council of Science & Technology

The Theoretical Promise of Lithium Air Technology

As the global demand for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems continues to accelerate, the limitations of current lithium-ion batteries have become a significant bottleneck for long-range mobility. Lithium-air batteries have emerged as a leading contender for next-generation power, boasting a theoretical energy density more than ten times higher than existing liquid-electrolyte technologies. Despite this potential, the commercialization of lithium-air systems has been stalled by sluggish oxygen reaction rates and rapid structural degradation. Researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE) are now addressing these hurdles by rethinking the fundamental architecture of the battery's catalytic surface.

Activating the Dormant Basal Plane

Traditional two-dimensional catalysts, such as tungsten diselenide (WSe₂), typically suffer from a lack of active sites, as chemical reactions are often confined to the narrow edges of the material’s layered structure. The vast majority of the material—the flat "basal plane"—usually remains chemically inert. To overcome this structural limitation, the joint research team employed a sophisticated strategy of atomic-level defect control. By substituting platinum atoms into the WSe₂ lattice and intentionally creating vacancies where selenium atoms are missing, the scientists successfully converted the entire surface of the nanomaterial into an active catalytic zone. This transformation allows oxygen molecules to adsorb and react across the total area of the catalyst rather than just at its edges.

Synergy of Conductivity and Catalytic Reactivity

The technological breakthrough lies in the synergy between the inherent electrical conductivity of the metallic tungsten diselenide and the high reactivity of the newly created defect sites. During the initial discharge cycle, the catalyst forms oxide intermediates that further enhance the efficiency of subsequent charge-discharge cycles. Unlike previous attempts to increase surface activity, which often resulted in a loss of electrical conductivity or structural integrity, this atomic-scale engineering maintains the material’s robust metallic properties. This dual benefit ensures that the battery can handle the intense electrical demands of rapid...