LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University Advance High-Capacity LMR Battery Tech

Key facts

On September 7, 2026, LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University disclosed that joint research efforts had produced a key technology designed to overcome the stability barriers of lithium-rich manganese-rich layered oxide (LMR) cathodes, according to reporting by LG Energy Solution published via PRNewswire.

LMR cathodes have long been identified by battery scientists as a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage due to their potential specific discharge capacities exceeding 250 milliampere-hours per gram (mAh/g). This performance significantly surpasses the capacity of conventional nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathodes, which typically deliver between 180 and 210 mAh/g. The high capacity of LMR materials stems from a dual charge-compensation mechanism involving both transition-metal cations and oxygen anions when operating at voltages above 4.5 volts.

However, activating oxygen anion redox at high operating voltages causes severe structural instability within the cathode material. Over repeated charge and discharge cycles, oxygen loss leads to particle microcracking, transition metal migration, irreversible phase transitions from a layered structure to a spinel or rock-salt phase, and a continuous drop in working voltage known as voltage decay. These structural degradation factors reduce the energy efficiency and lifespan of the cell, while gas generation presents safety risks in tightly sealed battery packs.

According to LG Energy Solution, the joint research team with Seoul National University developed a stabilization mechanism that suppresses these structural defects during high-voltage operation. By maintaining the structural integrity of the LMR lattice, the technology stabilizes the electrode interface and reduces voltage decay, bringing the chemistry closer to commercial viability for commercial energy storage and electric vehicle platforms.

Why it matters

The advancement of LMR cathode technology addresses core economic and supply chain challenges facing the global electric vehicle industry. Battery cells represent up to 30 to 40 percent of the total manufacturing cost of an electric vehicle, with raw cathode materials accounting for the single largest portion of cell cost. Current high-performance batteries rely heavily on nickel and cobalt. Nickel pricing experiences periodic supply volatility, while cobalt extraction is concentrated in limited geographical regions, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising human rights and supply chain vulnerability concerns.

By substituting a significant portion of nickel and cobalt with manganese, LMR chemistries offer a path toward reducing raw material expenditures. Manganese is geographically widely distributed, lower in cost, and less prone to severe supply disruptions.

Furthermore, LMR technology occupies a strategic position between lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and high-nickel NCM cells. LFP batteries offer high thermal safety and low cost but possess lower volumetric and gravimetric energy density (typically 160 to 190 watt-hours per kilogram at the cell level), limiting vehicle range. High-nickel NCM cells provide energy densities above 250 to 300 Wh/kg but incur higher raw material costs. LMR cathodes offer high energy density at lower material cost, potentially enabling lower-priced electric vehicles with longer driving ranges without requiring expensive raw materials.

For battery manufacturers, securing stable LMR technology offers a competitive edge in an evolving market where vehicle manufacturers are demanding cheaper, safer, and higher-density power sources to expand mass-market EV adoption.

Lithium-ion battery technology has evolved through several chemistry iterations since its commercial introduction by Sony Corporation in 1991, which utilized lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes. As demand expanded from consumer electronics to heavy automotive applications, researchers developed nickel-manganese-cobalt (NCM) and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) chemistries to balance energy density, thermal stability, and cycle life. In standard NCM chemistries, nickel provides high specific capacity, cobalt stabilizes the layered crystal structure and enhances electrical conductivity, and manganese improves structural and thermal stability.

To reduce costs and increase range, the battery industry initially shifted toward high-nickel chemistries, such as NCM 811 (80% nickel, 10% cobalt, 10% manganese) and ultra-high nickel formulations exceeding 90% nickel content. However, as nickel content increases, thermal stability decreases, requiring advanced thermal management and protective coatings.

Lithium-rich manganese-rich layered oxides (Li1+xM1-xO2, where M represents manganese, nickel, and cobalt) emerged as a high-capacity alternative. In LMR compounds, manganese constitutes the primary transition metal, with additional lithium ions incorporated into the transition metal layer. When charged above 4.5V, both transition metal ions and lattice oxygen participate in the charge transfer process, yielding superior electrical capacity. However, early LMR materials suffered from severe technical drawbacks during cycling, including gas evolution resulting from lattice oxygen release, irreversible phase transformation into electrochemically inactive rock-salt or spinel structures, and rapid voltage decay that complicated battery management system designs.

LG Energy Solution, formed in December 2020 through a spin-off of LG Chem's energy business and listed on the Korea Exchange in January 2022, is one of the world's primary battery manufacturers. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, LG Energy Solution operates manufacturing plants in South Korea, the United States, China, and Poland, supplying battery systems to automotive groups including General Motors, Hyundai Motor Group, Honda Motor Company, and Stellantis.

Seoul National University, South Korea's flagship public institution, maintains dedicated corporate-academic research labs focused on advanced materials science, solid-state electrochemistry, and energy storage systems. Joint university-industry partnerships form a key pillar of South Korea's national strategy to preserve technological competitiveness in global battery manufacturing against expanding Chinese competitors such as CATL and BYD.

Reaction

Following the announcement, energy analysts and automotive industry observers noted that stabilizing LMR cathodes represents a critical milestone in cell-chemistry roadmaps. Automotive manufacturers seeking to reduce entry-level vehicle prices have increasingly shifted toward lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells produced primarily in China. The development of stable LMR technology offers non-Chinese battery producers a high-density, low-cost alternative chemistry to counter LFP's market expansion in mass-market electric vehicles.

While LG Energy Solution did not detail specific customer commitments in its initial statement, global vehicle manufacturers are expected to evaluate LMR cell samples as part of their long-term powertrain sourcing plans. South Korean government ministries and industrial strategy bodies are also expected to monitor the research outcomes, given national policies aimed at supporting domestic battery intellectual property and supply chain independence.

What we don't know yet

Despite the strategic significance of the joint research announcement by LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University, several key technical and commercial details remain unconfirmed:

What to watch

This account is based on original reporting provided by LG Energy Solution and distributed via PRNewswire.