UK SPICE project chases battery breakthrough

Cheaper, faster-charging lithium-ion batteries with increased lifespan could be made possible by a UK project to develop better coating technology for silicon anodes.

The project, known as SPICE (Silicon Product Improvement through Coating Enhancement), is being led by Oxfordshire-based battery materials specialist Nexeon, and has been awarded £2 million in funding through the Government’s ISCF Faraday Battery Challenge by Innovate UK.

Silicon anodes are increasingly seen as the next stage in lithium-ion battery development, as their ability to absorb more charge should lead to smaller batteries with a longer life.

However, to get the most from the use of silicon, battery makers typically have to use additional electrolyte additives, which add to the overall cost, according to Bill Macklin, chief engineer at Nexeon. Adding a surface coating to the silicon reduces the need for these higher cost electrolyte additives, he said, cutting the cost.