US-based silicon oxide anode material producer NanoGraf has announced the release of Onyx, “an EV-ready silicon anode material that delivers dramatically improved lithium-ion battery performance at cost parity with synthetic graphite anodes.”
“Designed to deliver peak performance at a lower price point than other available silicon anode options, Onyx is drop-in ready today, and is also suitable for other applications, including military, medical devices, consumer electronics, drones and more,” says the company.
NanoGraf manufactures Onyx at its facility in Chicago, and plans expanded production at a recently-announced factory in Flint, Michigan. Onyx is a domestically-produced alternative to synthetic graphite, the vast majority of which currently comes from China.
“Silicon anodes have the potential to significantly improve lithium-ion battery performance, but shortcomings in cost, stability, and supply chain resilience have been major barriers,” said NanoGraf CEO Francis Wang. “With Onyx, NanoGraf has addressed these issues to create a material that makes silicon anode technology as ready for manufacturing as graphite. It’s our most energy-dense anode material yet, perfect for the demands of EVs and other real-world applications.”
According to the company, Onyx delivers a 30% improvement in cell energy density compared to synthetic graphite anodes, and now has cost parity at scale on a dollar per kilowatt-hour basis. Onyx’s metal-doped silicon oxide core is designed to reduce swelling by 75% compared to traditional silicon, extending overall battery life.
NanoGraf says it is one of only a few large-scale silicon anode producers that does not use silane gas, a costly and volatile ingredient that has made silicon anodes more expensive and at more risk of supply chain interruptions.
“Eliminating silane gas from the anode production process is a huge step forward for the battery industry,” said Wang. “This paves the way for more sustainable, scalable and cost-effective solutions that set a new standard for innovation in battery manufacturing.”
Source: NanoGraf
