Recycling energy for the future: an interview with Kim Jae-kyum

Among the rapidly developing battery industry is Lotte Chemical, a company that has a unique department called Future Technology Center within the Battery Materials division. This interview with Kim Jae-kyum, a senior researcher at the Future Technology Center, touched upon the battery industry's efforts to improve battery efficiency in an eco-friendly manner, but still highlighted that eco-friendliness and sustainability is yet to be recognized as a primary consideration for battery development.

Which department are you currently working on battery-related research? My team is called Lotte Chemical. I belong to the Future Technology Center. The team I belong to is called the 1st team of electronic materials. We are working on developing a product for the next generation. I can't tell you in detail, but for now, I am mainly studying the surface coating and separation. 

How does the material you are studying contribute to the battery’s performance?

If we use lithium metal, the theoretical energy density can increase more than tenfold — up to sixteen times higher. However, it hasn’t been commercialized yet because of a major issue called dendrite formation, which occurs on the surface of the metal and affects battery safety. My research focuses on how to overcome this problem so that lithium metal anodes can be applied safely and effectively. 

Does Lotte Chemical apply eco-friendly or recycling-based technologies in its battery material production process?

Currently, Lotte Chemical is in the middle of expanding into the battery industry. We haven’t yet achieved large-scale CO₂ reduction within the production process itself, as our foundation is still petrochemical-based—mainly using materials such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). However, the company is working to evolve toward higher-performance and more sustainable materials beyond conventional petrochemistry.

You said that the carbon reduction in the battery sector is not going well. But is the government's carbon neutrality or ESG policy affecting the construction site? 

In many ways, they go hand in hand. Recycling and carbon reduction are increasingly seen as one combined goal rather than separate agendas. It’s not easy, but the company is trying to move toward a system where both can be achieved together.

From a business perspective, ESG can be challenging because a company must still generate profit. Using recycled materials or cleaner processes often increases production costs, so the key question becomes how far a company can go while maintaining profitability. That’s the biggest internal concern right now.

How does collaboration with the government, other companies, or research institutions take place?

We’re not a cell manufacturer ourselves; we’re a materials supplier. So our main clients are Samsung, LG, and SK—the major cell producers. For example, if our team develops a new coating material, we conduct joint research with those companies, providing the material so that they can apply it to their batteries and test performance.

What kind of policy support do you think is most needed to advance battery material technology in Korea?

Trade competitiveness is a big challenge. For instance, U.S. policies include tariffs and incentives to encourage domestic battery production. Meanwhile, China still dominates the global supply chain with low-cost labor and materials, making price competition difficult. To maintain Korea’s battery industry, the government needs to protect domestic producers from unfair pricing and create policies similar to those used in the U.S. to balance the market. In order to maintain the domestic battery industry, the government should pay attention to the overpricing of Chinese products like the US. 

What are the biggest technical or environmental challenges right now?

The main challenge in battery recycling is the lack of standardization. Each company’s battery design is different, so recycling requires manual disassembly and processing to extract usable materials—which is both dangerous and time-consuming. Automation is needed, but because battery efficiency and chemistry vary widely, it’s hard to design a single process that fits all types. There’s still no fixed, efficient system for recycling at scale.

Recycling isn’t Lotte Chemical’s main business yet, but in Europe, we’re focusing on reducing fluorine-based chemicals, since they have environmental and safety concerns. We prioritize goals in this order: first, performance, then cost efficiency, and third, environmental responsibility. So while fluorine reduction isn’t our primary objective, it’s an essential part of achieving the third goal—sustainability.

Lastly, I would like to ask you to talk about eco-friendly methods for battery industry and material research. Do you think it is a topic that is being emphasized or talked about more? 

Yes, I think so. But there's a long way to go. For example, in a way, electric vehicles are not eco-friendly cars yet. Many people think electric vehicles are already eco-friendly, but in reality, the entire cycle from production to recycling still poses environmental challenges. And it’s not just about one sector. The government, companies, and researchers all need to work together for long-term improvement. It’s a collective effort that requires patience, innovation, and collaboration.