Nexeon Faraday Challenge R5: NewBATSEED- New Biomass Anode Technology and Silicon Electrodes with high Energy Density
Funder
Innovate UK
Value to Coventry University
£310,684.00
Project Team
Collaborators
Lead - Nexeon Limited
University College London
Duration
1 Apr 2023 - 31 Mar 2025
Project overview
The New BATSEED (New Biomass Anode Technology and Silicon Electrodes with high Energy Density) project supports two innovative development strands for the next generation of automotive EV battery cells and anode materials, delivering a significant boost in energy density. The project will establish Britishvolt and Nexeon as key elements of a dynamic, expanding UK-based automotive battery supply chain capable to support both the growing domestic demand (forecast 90 GWh by 2030) and with the opportunity for exporting both world-leading cells and anode materials to overseas OEMs and cell manufacturers, respectively. Silicon is on all the automotive OEM battery technology roadmaps, with low (5-10 wt.%) Si content silicon-graphite electrodes now in the market. Higher energy density Li-ion cells containing increased silicon content anodes are sought to increase driving range, and faster charging via cell design optimisation, that require engineered materials that mitigate volume changes at the anode material level. Nexeon is a world leader in engineered silicon anode materials (200+ patents), and has already developed a low expansion silicon material under a previous Faraday project (SUNRISE). In the New BATSEED project Nexeon will develop a biomass based anode material from globally available biomass sources, aligned with establishing a localised UK/European supply chain. The second aspect of innovation from the project will be the development and demonstration of high capacity (silicon content) anodes and their demonstration in 21700 cells, targeting anode capacities significantly higher than current graphite based anode designs. Britishvolt, a new entrant establishing a UK Gigafactory in 2023 at 10GWh ramping to over 30GWh in 2027 is targeting the premium section of the UK/EU automotive sector, hence requires the use of silicon anodes. Britishvolt will adopt advanced computer-aided cell design tools to accelerate the design phase and supply a high capacity cathode to complement the silicon anode. Nexeon will perform the anode electrode formulation optimisation, while scaled electrode coating and the assembly of 21700 cylindrical Li-ion cells will be performed in the facilities at Coventry University. The team at UCL's Electrochemical Innovation Lab will conduct failure mode analysis on the cycled 21700 cells and provide feedback for iterative improvement to cell design over the 24 month project.
Project objectives
The New BATSEED project supports two innovative development strands for the next generation of automotive EV battery cells and anode materials, delivering a significant boost in energy density. Nexeon's current silicon materials adopt sustainable nutshell derived carbon as the silicon host. In the New BATSEED project under the first innovation strand, Nexeon will develop a second generation of biomass based anode materials using carbon from globally available wood biomass sources, aligned with establishing a localised UK/European supply chain. The second innovation strand will involve the development of high capacity, high silicon anode electrodes of 1000 (1st iteration) and 1500 mAh g-1 (2nd iteration) representing 3x and 4x increase over current graphite based designs, with their subsequent demonstration in 21700 cells. The project objectives are to be achieved through a complimentary and integrated approach between partners. In supporting the project objectives, the work at Coventry University will deliver the following: Transfer of lab scale formulation of anodes at Nexeon to prototype scale at Coventry Electrode development and production at reel-to-reel scale of cathodes and high silicon anodes Development and production of 21700 demonstrator cells with optimised design by Britishvolt (2 anode types/cell designs) Electrochemical performance and lifetime testing of 21700 cells The project looks to achieve and demonstrate a step change in anode capacity and cell energy and in so doing, the full expertise and capabilities in Cell Prototyping at Coventry University will be engaged, with successful delivery further promoting these facilities, the Coventry team and Coventry University whilst further cementing long term collaboration between Nexeon, Britishvolt, UCL and Coventry University for the future.
