An Australian company developing unique silicon-based anodes that can boost the energy density of lithium ion batteries has received a $45 million grant from the federal government to set up a commercial-scale manufacturing facility in its home town.
Sicona Battery Technologies says its silicon carbon anodes, which come in the form of a black powder that has been described as a “magic pixie dust” by the former CTO of EV giant Tesla, can boost the energy density of lithium-ion batteries by at least 20 per cent, depending on the application.
And it says it can do this at lower cost than its rivals, thanks to the unique intellectual property that it has developed out of its origins at the University of Wollongong.
The technology is particularly applicable for electric vehicles, which seems destined to be its biggest market because it can improve range and cut charging times, and it can deliver smaller and lighter battery packs.
But the technology it is also applicable in power tools, mobile phones, drones, robotics, AI and other applications where the energy intensity gains may be even more significant.
