Professor Jai-ick Yoh’s Research Team at Seoul National University Begins Collaboration with U.S. Air Force Research Lab on Battery Thermal Runaway Control

- Initiates Development of Safety Enhancement Technology for Electric Mobility Following Designation as a U.S. Air Force Research Lab


▲ Professor Jai-ick Yoh, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University

Seoul National University College of Engineering has announced that Professor Jai-ick Yoh’s research team from the Department of Aerospace Engineering has been selected as a designated research lab by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Professor Yoh, who also serves as the President of the Korean Society of Combustion, will collaborate with the AFRL to conduct research on controlling thermal runaway in ultra-high capacity lithium-ion batteries.

As a designated research lab, Professor Yoh's team will receive long-term funding from the AFRL. Notably, the evaluation process has been significantly streamlined, with fewer performance reports and interim evaluations, allowing researchers to concentrate on fundamental technology research in a more efficient support system.

Recently, thermal runaway—a phenomenon in combustion engineering—has been identified as a key issue in battery-related electric vehicle fires and explosions. Thermal runaway occurs when flammable components within the battery react chemically, causing a rapid rise in temperature that can lead to explosions. In December of last year, Professor Yoh published findings in Combustion and Flame, a leading journal in the field, revealing that next-generation solid-state batteries, often seen as a solution for future secondary batteries, are not immune to thermal runaway, much like conventional lithium-ion batteries.

As an AFRL-designated lab, Professor Yoh’s team will focus on clarifying the principles of thermal runaway in various lithium-ion batteries through experimental and modeling approaches. The research will also aim to develop technologies to prevent thermal runaway. The outcomes are expected to play a pivotal role in significantly improving battery safety in various electric mobility sectors, including energy storage systems (ESS) and electric propulsion aircraft. Furthermore, the developed technologies are likely to become essential across the energy industry as a whole.

Professor Yoh commented, “This designation is significant in that it lays a solid foundation for fundamental research to uncover the underlying reaction mechanisms of electrically-driven combustion systems. It also opens the possibility of applying these findings to next-generation weapon systems and satellite propulsion systems, where intentional thermal runaway may be required." He further emphasized, “The results of this research are expected to be applied not only in the electrification of the automotive sector but also across all industries utilizing secondary batteries.”

Professor Yoh, who has conducted research on battery thermal runaway with support from domestic companies and research foundations, has published over 180 corresponding author papers in SCI journals in the field of combustion engineering. The selection of his lab by the AFRL is seen as recognition of the originality and scalability of his research. The technology developed through this project is anticipated to establish itself as a crucial component in enhancing safety and maximizing performance across all sectors of future mobility.


[Contact Number]
Professor Jai-ick Yoh, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University / +82-2-880-9334 / jjyoh@snu.ac.kr