Panasonic and Sila Nanotechnologies to make Silicon EV batteries by replacing graphite with silicon in lithium-ion batteries. Recently, both companies signed a deal to develop lithium-ion batteries for future electric vehicles. In new batteries they will replace graphite with silicon, resulting in improved performance and longer lifespan. The newly developed batteries hold the potential for enhanced performance and extended lifespan.
Panasonic has just revealed an exciting collaboration with Sila Nanotechnologies, a manufacturer of silicon anodes, to incorporate their technology into Panasonic’s current battery production line by the year 2024. With this new technology electric vehicles (EVs) there will be improvements with increased battery range and reduced charging time. This technology replaces the graphite typically found on the negatively charged anodes of lithium-ion EV batteries with silicon.
According to an IEA report, in 2023, a staggering 14 million electric vehicles were sold, and this number is poised to surge in the years ahead. These vehicles currently rely on cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries, which are continuously improving. However, despite their advancements, certain challenges persist, restricting their overall usefulness and convenience.
Azin Fahimi, chief scientist officer at Sienza Energy, United States, said, “The capability of a battery to store energy in relation to its size and weight, known as energy density, is a key factor for electric vehicles, as it affects the distance they can cover on a single charge.”
Azin Fahimi’s team is working on different research on silicon anode implementation, and she further added, “Another crucial aspect is power density, which refers to how quickly a battery can supply energy.”
Why Are Range and Charge Time Affected by New Silicon Anode?
Batteries depend on the movement of charged particles, called ions, between two electrical conductors known as electrodes. During the charging process, lithium ions move from the cathode (the positive electrode) through the electrolyte. Then it enters the the anode (the negative electrode), where they remain until they are needed to provide power.
“When the battery is providing power to a device, the lithium ions move back from the anode to the cathode. This movement of ions allows electrons to flow through the external circuit, generating an electric current that powers the device,” Fahimi further added.
The performance of a battery greatly depends on the anode material. It is also responsible for storing ions until they are required to power the car.
According to Fahimi, “A good anode material should possess a high lithium storage capacity to ensure high energy density, good electrical conductivity to facilitate efficient electron flow, [and] fast ion transport for rapid charging capabilities. The anode also needs a stable structure that doesn’t change in volume when ions are flowing in and out of it as this can damage the surface.”
Panasonic and Sila Nanotechnologies to make Silicon EV batteries. Traditionally, graphite anodes have been widely used in lithium-ion batteries due to their layered structure. As this layered structure allows for the movement of ions without significant changes in volume.
“Due to its chemistry, silicon can hold more than tenfold more energy per gram. This higher capacity means that silicon can store more lithium ions, resulting in a higher energy density for the battery. A higher energy density translates to a longer range for EVs on a single charge. Unfortunately, silicon swells to three or four times its original size when filled with lithium ions, leading to mechanical stress and eventual degradation of the anode material,” Fahimi explained.
Consequently, nanoscale design of the silicon anode is essential to address this challenge. In their subsequent research, Fahimi’s team at Sienza and the teams at Sila are dedicated to resolving this issue.