NEO’s silicon anodes achieve long-term cycling

NEO Battery Materials (TSXV: NBM) announced that it has achieved a highly stable long-term cycling ability using 100% silicon (Si) anodes. 

In a press release, the Vancouver-based firm said the pure Si anode that does not contain graphite anode materials has been successful in demonstrating these results at automotive rates of charge and discharge for over 1,000 cycles. 

According to the company, its proprietary uniform nano-coating technology also allowed it to reduce capacity decay to less than 25% after running 1,000 cycles.

“Our patented elastomer nano-coating layer which has both electronic and ionic conductivity is able to compensate for the mechanical stress of the Si anode during a long-term cycling test. Our technology effectively scatters the stress from the Si anode, allowing commercial level areal capacity of >2.0 mAh/cm²,” Jong Hyeok Park, director and chair of NEO’s scientific advisory board, said in the media brief.  

In his statement, Park quoted Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, who said that, although it is difficult to incorporate a durable anode from 100% silicon nanoparticles into Li-ion batteries, doing so has the potential to improve energy density by 20-40%, extending the maximum range of vehicles by 20%.

“NEO is continuing to develop Si anode material modification technology to manufacture innovative anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries at a low and scalable cost,” the executive said.

Besides technology development, the company is focusing on exploring and producing silicon at a number of mining claims it has staked in British Columbia, Canada. 

The properties occupy 467 hectares and are along a strike with a quartzite bed, targeting silica in the quartzites.