KVAL: Stabilizing Si as anode in Li-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LiB) contain carbon (C) due to its excellent properties, low cost and low weight. However, C-based batteries are at risk of combustion when used for an extended period or at high voltages. To address these safety concerns, the amount of C is reduced by substituting some of it by other materials. Silicon (Si) is a promissing, emerging substitution material, as it is non-combustible and potentially will enable batteries with very high performance. Unfortunately, the exploitation of Si in LiBs is hampered by severe material-related challenges, leading to diminishing battery capacity with increasing number of charge-, discharge cycles. Therefore a significant amount of C is still used in Si batteries. Scientists at the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) at the University of Oslo have developed a new solution allowing substitution of a larger portion of C with Si, while at the same time mitigating the battery-cycling capacity-loss issue. The solution is a new chemical compound (additive), composing organic, easily available, and cheap chemicals, that are added to the battery electrode through conventional processing steps. This allows heavy loading with Si, far above the current standards, while at the same time increasing the capacity, energy density, and life time of the battery. The reduction in the amount of carbon enhances the safety of the battery. This Qualification project will ensure business justification of the technology by assessing industry feasibility, market potential and business opportunity, and securing intellectual property rights.