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Third-party testing of GDIs 100% silicon anodes shows that they offer more than 30% more energy density than graphite anodes, enabling 15-minute fast charges to 80% state of charge (SOC). ) hundreds of consecutive times.
In recent years, the search for new generation, high energy density lithium-ion batteries has led to anodes with more silicon instead of the commonly used graphite. This is due to the theoretical capacity of the abundant and non-toxic material of 3,600 mAh/g, compared to the maximum of 372 mAh/g for graphite.
The latest company that has announced significant advances in the development of silicon anodes is the American GDI. The company has launched a 100% roll-to-roll processed silicon anode and announced the results of third-party safety testing.
According to GDI, its silicon anode has exceeded 3,200 mAh/g in third-party testing, allowing for an energy density greater than 30% of that of graphite anodes, enabling repeated rapid charges of 15 minutes hundreds of times. , one after another.
While the benefits of fast charging, safety and high energy are difficult to achieve simultaneously in current lithium-ion batteries, GDI claims that its technology enables all three as a result of its silicon architecture, tied directly to a copper alloy sheet manufactured by Carl Schlenk AG, based in Germany.
“The next step is to demonstrate that our anode can enable electric vehicle batteries with more than 800 km of range, allowing charging 400 km in 15 minutes hundreds of times and improving safety,” says Rob Anstey, CEO of GDI. . “Our mission at GDI is to deliver a complete 100% silicon anode that can be integrated into existing battery production, greatly reduce GHG emissions from anode production, and scale rapidly into cutting-edge industrial equipment.”
GDI has worked in collaboration with AGC, a Japan-based plasma and glass coating technology specialist, to demonstrate the MWh scale of its roll-to-roll production using AGCs modified glass coating equipment. The anode specialist has demonstrated that its finished product can be fed directly into existing cell production lines, avoiding numerous steps and reducing costs.
“GDI and AGC have developed a clear roadmap to gigawatt-scale production by 2028, so that this technology can be used in tens of thousands of high-performance vehicles by 2030,” Anstey said.
GDI estimates that its advanced production method reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to graphite anodes.
The company also announced third-party test results showing that battery cells incorporating GDIs silicon anode are “much more resistant to thermal runaway than current high-energy EV cells on the market.”
The 3.5 Ah batteries were manufactured by the American company Navitas with an energy density of more than 250 Wh/kg and a standard liquid electrolyte. After leaving a nail through the Navita cell with a GDI anode for 10 hours, there was no fire, no smoke, and temperatures only increased by 10ºC.
Additionally, the cell passed nail penetration tests, even with commercial liquid electrolytes and a high-nickel cathode, and was only heated to 30°C, according to the company.
GDI is headquartered in New York and has a European R&D center and a pilot production plant in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It is currently building its first MWh-scale roll-to-roll production facility in Lauenförde, Germany. The company is supported by venture capital investors, industry experts, government agencies, EIT InnoEnergy and strategic investors. |
