The contribution of German companies develops new battery material – for more performance by Felix Baumann, first appeared on Basic Thinking. You always stay up to date with our newsletter.
The German company Altech is currently working on the production of a new battery material that is intended to enable batteries with significantly more power. The basis forms silicon.
Altech Batteries Limited inaugurated a pilot plant to a new battery statement called “Silumina Anodes” in Germany to produce. The material is based on silicon and is intended to increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. The background: Silicon is considered a promising material for battery technology, since it can theoretically store more lithium than graphite.
In practice, however, the strong volume fluctuations in the material cause problems. These lead to mechanical stress when charging and unloading and affect the lifespan of the cells. Altech therefore relies on a combination of coated silicon and an adapted particle structure.
Silicon particles are initially surrounded with a thin layer of aluminum. This coating is intended to reduce unwanted chemical reactions. Then the particles are transferred to a spherical structure. This makes them better mix with graphite and integrate them into the anode more evenly.
New battery material “Silumina Anodes” for more capacity
According to company information, tests in the laboratory have shown that an admixture of five percent silicon is sufficient to increase the capacity of the anode by up to 50 percent compared to conventional graphite tanks. At the same time, the spherical particles should reduce the loads in operation and increase cycle strength.
The combination of an aluminum coating and sphericization is crucial for the technical feasibility of the approach. The pilot plant in Saxony is now in full operation. The company was able to overcome initial difficulties, especially when handling the fine silicon powder.
Production for electric vehicles
Altech already produced the first material samples and is now available for further tests with potential customers. The test phase applies an important step on the way to a possible series production.
Altech sees the main area of application of Silumina Anodes primarily in the area of electromobility. Because there the demand for batteries with a high energy density and good durability is particularly high. It is also expected that the use of silicon could reduce the need for pure graphite. That would also be an advantage for sustainability reasons.
It is still open when the technology will be transferred to large -scale production. The focus is currently on the validation of the results on an industrial scale.
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The contribution of German companies develops new battery material – for more performance by Felix Baumann, first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a tech industry expert, I am extremely impressed by the innovation coming out of this German company in developing a new battery material for improved performance. The battery technology sector has been rapidly evolving in recent years, and any advancements in materials that can enhance battery performance are incredibly valuable.
Improved battery performance is crucial for a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and beyond. By developing new materials that can increase the energy density, cycle life, and charge rate of batteries, this German company is paving the way for more efficient and sustainable energy solutions.
I believe that this new battery material has the potential to revolutionize the energy storage industry and lead to significant advancements in the development of next-generation battery technologies. I look forward to seeing how this innovation will be implemented and the impact it will have on the tech industry as a whole.
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