Silicon carbon batteries are a real game-changer. But they also have a big problem. To see why, you need to dive deep inside a battery. So let's do that.
Fabulous technology explanation, but with one glaring omission.
At the very end, you mention GDI and Nexeon (fine firms and worthy of mention). But you bypassed the leader in silicon anode production and commercial traction, Group14 Technologies and their product SCC55.
Thanks for explaining this well enough for a chemistry-challenged person to see it clearly. (And to enjoy it all the way to the end of the article.) You're literally enlarging my known world.
Hi Ed, really interesting piece. Are the sort of charge times stated in the article for an EV possible with silicon coating or is that with a pure silicon anode?
Good question. I think that's for pure silicon. And the 5 min fig is a manufacturer's claim and not as far as I know independently verified - so should prob be treated with caution.
You overlooked the Enovix battery, which has a 100% silicon anode and 30% more energy density than any Li-ion battery on the market. It has a unique 3D architecture of stainless steel plates to mitigate swelling and cracking, i.e., reduction of battery life. It also has half the charging time. It can match CATL batteries for energy density and charge time. The Enovix battery will run a smart phone on a neural network, bringing AI to the mobile electronic device market. Most important, the Enovix battery has the patented BrakeFlow technology, which mitigates thermal runway. You can find proof of BrakeFlow with a nail-test demonstration on YouTube performed by TJ Rodgers. As we know, when you increase the energy density, you increase the fire danger. The Enovix battery is scheduled later this year for delivery to a major Silicon Valley OEM for its VR headset. Two of China’s largest smart phone OEMs are in the product-fit phase with Enovix batteries.The Enovix EV battery is scheduled to begin production in 2026.
Thanks Ed. There's been a sort of Cambrian explosion of battery chemistries in recent years. Most of them are well preproduction as yet but improved variations with better energy density an/or faster charging time are coming into the market so fast now it's a struggle to keep up with them all.
The 1000 km car is here already and some of the solid state batteries coming to production will bring 1000 mile range into sight.
Not just that, but energy densities thar will enable electrically powered flight.
PS
Hard to believe perhaps but happy to be challenged for details and sources if this interests you.
One of the best lessons to come out of Material World is the fact that virtually all advancements are just that, progress. What do the economics of this potential advancement tell us? Is this a luxury that comes at a higher price (assuming it is mass produced), or does it widen the gulf of the haves and have nots? Assuming this was mass produced at a scale equal to competing technologies, do the economics make sense beyond small applications such as phones and laptops? Great work Ed.
Great article Ed! Good balance of technical explanations but in layman's terms. I can't wait to see which battery chemistries currently being worked on will have their challenges solved and become ubiquitous.
I'm curious how the charging speed will support USB 3.1 PD cables, which support 60-100Watts. some of those cables are made poorly/cheaply, and might not be able to withstand long charging cycles. Or a mismatch of charging speeds could cause it try to try to run at a speed faster than the battery is rated for.
I've read about Sodium Ion capacitors, which can charge faster as hybrids, but aren't as dense as lithium. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_capacitor For small flip phones, though, 70-100mAh isn't too small if it could be recharged with a solar panel...
Are we, in the UK, blessed with any of the natural resources needed to make silicon batteries, or are we dependent on imports and possibly precarious supply lines?
No worries, if you were so blessed, do you think your government would ever allow the means of extraction and refining to capitalize on such a discovery? Judging by the recent history of coal, ores, hydrocarbons, salts, fracking, and other minerals, highly unlikely. Easier and cheaper to extract it from Africa or some other “outta sight, outta mind” location.
Hi Ed,
Fabulous technology explanation, but with one glaring omission.
At the very end, you mention GDI and Nexeon (fine firms and worthy of mention). But you bypassed the leader in silicon anode production and commercial traction, Group14 Technologies and their product SCC55.
In September, they commissioned the first EV-scale plant in the world for this stuff in Korea (JV with SK) at 2,000 metric tons/yr., 10 GWh. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/group14-delivers-its-advanced-silicon-battery-material-to-over-100-customers-worldwide-from-an-ev-scale-factory-302249774.html
They are tracking to bring two more same-size plants live in Moses Lake, WA in 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RlH5-_P29A
And your worry about "swelling" has been solved.
Battery companies using SCC55 are showing cycle life above 1,000 while retaining 80% or better capacity.
Molicel is at 1,400 with their P50B https://www.molicel.com/inr-21700-p50b/ It can already be found lifting heavy loads in the North Sea. https://flyingbasket.com/blog/news-1/skylift-delivered-over-5-tons-of-wind-turbine-equipment-offshore-using-flyingbasket-heavy-lift-drones-25. And if you have 800,000 Euros to spare, how about the fastest car in the world? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB3AHI40BFE
Sionic just announced their 100% silicon anode battery with 1,200 cycles. https://spectrum.ieee.org/silicon-anode-battery-2670396855
InoBat also is now visible with their high performance battery: https://www.inobat.eu/newsroom/tests-confirm-inobats-31ah-battery-offers-a-groundbreaking-solution-for-the-high-performance-mobility-markets/
And the two big dominos in consumer electronics may be close to falling via TDK's announcement, as well: https://www.firstpost.com/tech/iphone-battery-supplier-tdk-rolls-out-new-silicon-anode-batteries-to-keep-up-with-ai-devices-evs-13850273.html
Thanks for explaining this well enough for a chemistry-challenged person to see it clearly. (And to enjoy it all the way to the end of the article.) You're literally enlarging my known world.
Hi Ed, really interesting piece. Are the sort of charge times stated in the article for an EV possible with silicon coating or is that with a pure silicon anode?
Good question. I think that's for pure silicon. And the 5 min fig is a manufacturer's claim and not as far as I know independently verified - so should prob be treated with caution.
Gotya. Thanks Ed. Currently halfway through your book and enjoying immensely
You overlooked the Enovix battery, which has a 100% silicon anode and 30% more energy density than any Li-ion battery on the market. It has a unique 3D architecture of stainless steel plates to mitigate swelling and cracking, i.e., reduction of battery life. It also has half the charging time. It can match CATL batteries for energy density and charge time. The Enovix battery will run a smart phone on a neural network, bringing AI to the mobile electronic device market. Most important, the Enovix battery has the patented BrakeFlow technology, which mitigates thermal runway. You can find proof of BrakeFlow with a nail-test demonstration on YouTube performed by TJ Rodgers. As we know, when you increase the energy density, you increase the fire danger. The Enovix battery is scheduled later this year for delivery to a major Silicon Valley OEM for its VR headset. Two of China’s largest smart phone OEMs are in the product-fit phase with Enovix batteries.The Enovix EV battery is scheduled to begin production in 2026.
Thanks Ed. There's been a sort of Cambrian explosion of battery chemistries in recent years. Most of them are well preproduction as yet but improved variations with better energy density an/or faster charging time are coming into the market so fast now it's a struggle to keep up with them all.
The 1000 km car is here already and some of the solid state batteries coming to production will bring 1000 mile range into sight.
Not just that, but energy densities thar will enable electrically powered flight.
PS
Hard to believe perhaps but happy to be challenged for details and sources if this interests you.
As to, e-flight....here you go....https://www.electrive.com/2024/12/10/archer-commercializes-air-taxis-in-abu-dhabi/
One of the best lessons to come out of Material World is the fact that virtually all advancements are just that, progress. What do the economics of this potential advancement tell us? Is this a luxury that comes at a higher price (assuming it is mass produced), or does it widen the gulf of the haves and have nots? Assuming this was mass produced at a scale equal to competing technologies, do the economics make sense beyond small applications such as phones and laptops? Great work Ed.
I think "but of a composite of graphite and carbon." should be "but of a composite of graphite and silicon."?
Thanks yes corrected 🤦♂️
Great article Ed! Good balance of technical explanations but in layman's terms. I can't wait to see which battery chemistries currently being worked on will have their challenges solved and become ubiquitous.
https://scitechdaily.com/new-battery-can-self-charge-without-losing-energy/
Holy Grail
https://scitechdaily.com/new-battery-can-self-charge-without-losing-energy/
This is the Holy Grail
Fascinating article, Ed.
I've long suspected that batteries won't come of age until they're made of silicon and iron. Looks like we're 50% there.
I'm curious how the charging speed will support USB 3.1 PD cables, which support 60-100Watts. some of those cables are made poorly/cheaply, and might not be able to withstand long charging cycles. Or a mismatch of charging speeds could cause it try to try to run at a speed faster than the battery is rated for.
I've read about Sodium Ion capacitors, which can charge faster as hybrids, but aren't as dense as lithium. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_capacitor For small flip phones, though, 70-100mAh isn't too small if it could be recharged with a solar panel...
Are we, in the UK, blessed with any of the natural resources needed to make silicon batteries, or are we dependent on imports and possibly precarious supply lines?
No worries, if you were so blessed, do you think your government would ever allow the means of extraction and refining to capitalize on such a discovery? Judging by the recent history of coal, ores, hydrocarbons, salts, fracking, and other minerals, highly unlikely. Easier and cheaper to extract it from Africa or some other “outta sight, outta mind” location.
You have not read Ed's excellent book. The best Silicon (in the World) comes from Scotland.