Imagine a battery that acts like a larger fuel tank but fits in the same space, allowing cars to drive much further. It uses tiny silicon wires to pack more energy and a special liquid to keep everything stable and safe. It's designed to be recycled, so the materials can be used again to build new batteries.
Current EV batteries suffer from limited energy density and slow charging, while the supply chain lacks sustainable, circular recovery methods for critical materials.
A high-capacity battery system featuring Si-nanowire/graphite anodes, Ni-rich NCM cathodes, and fiber-based separators, validated in 21700-type cylindrical and pouch cells.
If you are an EV manufacturer dealing with range anxiety and slow charging times — this project developed a battery cell with >550 Wh/kg energy density that enables faster charging and higher capacity.
If you are a battery producer dealing with the difficulty of scaling silicon anodes — this project developed a process to scale Si-nanowire/graphite composites to 100 g reactor production with stable performance.
If you are a recycling company dealing with low recovery rates of battery materials — this project developed a circular economy approach for the recovery of anode, cathode, and electrolyte components.
The project aims to demonstrate high cost-competitiveness and cost-effectiveness through circular economy considerations and 2nd life battery applications.
Yes, the project has already scaled Si-nanowire/graphite anodes to 100 g reactor production and upscaled fiber-based separators to industrial paper-machine production.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not listed, but the project involves 9 industrial partners, suggesting a strong focus on industrial uptake.
The technology is being optimized for manufacture as a 21700-type cylindrical cell, which is a standard format for many EV battery packs.
The project runs from September 2022 to February 2027, with current reports showing successful pouch-cell testing and component upscaling.
The consortium is heavily industry-weighted with 9 industrial partners (53% of the total), including 2 SMEs. This strong industrial presence, spanning 9 countries, indicates that the research is tightly coupled with commercial manufacturing requirements rather than being purely academic.
Contact the University of Limerick for technical specifications and partnership opportunities.
Contact SciTransfer to connect with the SiGNE consortium for licensing or pilot collaboration.
