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Radically Improved Battery, Uses Silicon instead of Graphite

Arthur Hanson

Well-known member
A group of ex-Tesla engineers feels they may have a radical advance that may be a real game-changer. There have been many dead-end claims in the battery field, but this one looks to hold real promise to literally change the world around us radically. It looks like the first use will be in phones. Any thoughts or comments on this will be appreciated.

 
One needs specifics to judge about this.

What's the lifetime, cost and temperature range of the new technology?
What makes this technology different than the other dozen companies who claim the same?
What is the technology readiness level?
And as they're not yet bought by a bigger company (Panasonic, LG Chem, Samsung or CATL): Why not?

Smartwatches is of course the easiest segments; requirements for capacity, number of required life cycles, technical lifetime and cost efficiency are low.
 
Battery technology is a huge deal. I wouldn't want an electric vehicle during the zombie apocalypse but they'll when you drive them it's easier on you. A lot of freight haulers would have no problem driving an electric.
 
One needs specifics to judge about this.

What's the lifetime, cost and temperature range of the new technology?
What makes this technology different than the other dozen companies who claim the same?
What is the technology readiness level?
And as they're not yet bought by a bigger company (Panasonic, LG Chem, Samsung or CATL): Why not?

Smartwatches is of course the easiest segments; requirements for capacity, number of required life cycles, technical lifetime and cost efficiency are low.

A lot of companies have learned that you operate in stealth mode until the actual introduction and/or release as little as possible, so much of the information you are asking for is unavailable. It doesn't take a genius to realize this is going to be a trillion-dollar market worldwide that encompasses all forms of energy storage for all numerous different uses requiring different specifications, technologies, and configurations.
 
A lot of companies have learned that you operate in stealth mode until the actual introduction and/or release as little as possible, so much of the information you are asking for is unavailable. It doesn't take a genius to realize this is going to be a trillion-dollar market worldwide that encompasses all forms of energy storage for all numerous different uses requiring different specifications, technologies, and configurations.

Most what makes difference to battery capacity per weight, and volume sits on the cathode side. Anode on other side, even if you replace it with solid lithium will only make like 15% weight improvement.

So, that super duper stealth mode start-up promises to improve battery energy to weight ratio by at most 12-13%., and very likely just few percent in practice.
 
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Contents of modern Li-Ion cell are by mass:

1. Cathode material - 35%-60% depending on chemistry
2. Anode material 10%-15%
3. Electrolytes 12%-15%
4. Foil, separator, terminals, everything else 20%-30% depending of cell format

You can't do anything number 4. Separator is already almost featherweight. And Ohms law says you can't do anything about the weight of Aluminium, and Copper, aside increasing their current collection capacity by using some 3D corrugation patterns, but even that can only shave 2%-3% weight at max over straight foil.

Don't know much about electrolytes, but heard that there is also very few things you can do about their amount.

Anode replacement with silicon will give you straight 5%-6% improvement over graphite, but that's it.
 
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