New Research Powers Next-Gen Silicon-Based Batteries for Cheaper, Faster Charging and Longer-Range EVs

­The research, published today (24 October) in Nature Nanotechnology, was led by Dr Xuekun Lu, Senior Lecturer in Green Energy at Queen Mary University of London.

In the study, the researchers introduce an evidence-guided double-layer design for silicon-based composite electrodes to tackle key challenges in the Si-based electrode— a breakthrough with strong potential for next-generation high-performance batteries.

The evolution of automotive batteries has been driven by ever-increasing demand for driving range and charging speed since EVs took off 15 years ago. Silicon electrodes can provide 10 times higher theoretical capacity and faster charging, but their large-scale deployment is held back by substantial volume changes of up to 300% during charge/discharge cycles. This means they degrade quickly and don’t last long.

Assisted by multiscale multimodal operando imaging techniques, this research reveals unprecedented insights into the electro-chemo-mechanical processes of the graphite/silicon composite electrodes. Guided by these improved mechanistic understandings, a novel double-layer architecture is proposed, which addresses key challenges in material design, exhibiting significantly higher capacity and lower degradation compared to conventional formulations.

Dr Xuekun Lu, who led the study said: “In this study, for the first time, we visualise the interplay between microstructural design and electro-chemo-mechanical performance across length scales—from single particle to full electrode—by integrating multimodal operando imaging techniques.

“This study opens new avenues for innovating 3D composite electrode architectures, pushing the boundaries of energy density, cycle life, and charging speed in automotive batteries, and thereby accelerating large-scale EV adoption.” 

Professor David Greenwood, CEO of the WMG High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centre commented: "High silicon anodes are an important technology pathway for high energy density batteries in applications like Automotive. This study offers a much deeper understanding of the way in which their microstructure affects their performance and degradation, and will provide a basis for better battery design in the future" .