Rechargeable batteries with improved energy and power density have many potential, high impact applications including advanced portable electronics and electric vehicles.  However, most ‘next-generation’ materials capable of providing improved performance suffer from rapid capacity degradation or severe loss of capacity when rapidly discharged. 

Silicon is a promising anode material that is widely investigated as a potential successor for graphite since it can store significantly more energy per mass and volume.  Tremendous advancement towards commercialization of silicon anodes – including improving cycle life and minimizing electrode swelling – has been made over the past decade.  Proper electrode engineering has brought silicon-based anode materials closer to commercialization into consumer applications.  However, cycle life and irreversible capacity losses (ICL) due to side reactions continue to be issues that plague their widespread use.  However, silicon technology has not yet been significantly commercialized due to a number of shortcomings. 

Graphene, an atomically thin version of graphite widely regarded as a wonder material, has the potential to overcome many of the remaining issues due to graphene’s unique combination of high surface area, high in-plane electrical conductivity, excellent tensile modulus and mechanical durability.  In this presentation, we will describe the approaches and architectures employed using silicon-graphene composites to accelerate their development as well as remain challenges to be solved. 

SiNode Systems is a battery materials venture developing silicon-graphene anodes for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. SiNode anodes offer higher battery capacity and faster charging rates, all while being produced via a low cost solution chemistry-based manufacturing process.  SiNode seeks to change the landscape for lithium-ion batteries so they can meet the demands of a wide range of industries, from consumer electronics to electric vehicles.