OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH
LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Current state of lithium-ion batteries and issues
Charging to store electrical energy
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Lithium-ion migrates from cathode to anode
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Graphite is currently conventional anode material
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Graphite consists of around 24wt% of the whole battery due to low capacity (372 mAh g⁻¹)
Energy density of existing Lithium-ion battery
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240 Wh/kg
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670 Wh/L
Scientists worldwide have been trying to improve the energy density using silicon as anode, but cannot solve the problems of:
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Large particle volume expansion (300%) during lithiation
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Particle pulverization
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Structural collapse of electrode
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Poor cycle performance
OUR SOLUTION
Our solution is to replace the current anode material of
Lithium-ion batteries (or ‘negative charge’) with Si+.
Due to the thinness of the Si+ material, more cathode material can be ‘rolled’ into the battery, thereby increasing the capacity from 250Wh/kg to ~350Wh/kg of the battery.
Insides of a Lithium-ion Battery
Working of a Lithium-ion Battery
Lithium-ion Battery Production
The graphite is expected to be replaced by Si+ in percentages from 5% up to 100%.
The production process in replacing graphite with Si+ is the same. Our product can therefore be applied immediately in the commercial market.
PERFORMANCE OF Si+ IN LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Cathode
Anode
Volumetric energy density
(Wh/L)
Gravimetric energy density
(Wh/kg)
LCO
Graphite
497.8
194.78
LCO¹
Si+
762.8 (+53%)
254.5 (+30%)
NCA²
Graphite
676.5
254.5
NCA³
Si+
897.7 (+33%)
321.9 (+27%)
1: Performance certified by Intertek Testing Services (ITS)
2: Performance of Panasonic NCR18650B battery, the world-leading battery.
3: Calculated battery improvements using Si+
Si+ in powder form
Si+ anode
