Altech Batteries, an Australian battery technology, has announced a significant leap forward in battery performance. Its proprietary Silumina Anodes™ have achieved 88.5 per cent capacity retention after 500 charge-discharge cycles, with repeat testing confirming reproducibility and process stability. The results came from blending 5 per cent of its alumina-coated spherical silicon anode material into a graphite anode, a modest tweak with major implications.
Overcoming silicon’s long-standing limitations
Silicon’s theoretical capacity to store up to ten times more lithium ions than graphite is widely known. Yet, its practical use has been limited by its tendency to swell by as much as 300 per cent during charging, leading to particle fracture and capacity fade. Altech’s innovation addresses exactly that bottleneck.
“These latest results mark a genuine breakthrough for the battery industry. Achieving 88.5 per cent retention at 500 cycles with a 5 per cent silicon addition confirms the stability of our Silumina Anodes™ process,” said managing director of Altecth, Iggy Tan. “Our team in Saxony continues to deliver highly consistent results, validating the technology and scaling methods. Altech’s breakthrough positions us at the forefront of next-generation anode materials, unlocking longer-lasting, higher-capacity lithium-ion batteries.”
How Silumina Anodes™ change the game
Altech’s technology transforms irregular silicon into rounded, alumina-coated spheres, enabling them to sit comfortably in the graphite anode matrix. This design allows the silicon to expand and contract without damaging the structure.
Initial capacity hit 500 mAh/g, compared to 350 mAh/g for graphite-only anodes: a >40 per cent improvement. Even after 500 cycles, capacity remained around 420 mAh/g. That level of stability translates into 20–25 per cent higher total cell energy, which can be used to increase EV driving range or reduce pack weight. For drones, portable electronics, and aerospace systems, the volumetric energy boost can be a game-changer.
Pilot plant in Saxony accelerates scale-up
The company’s pilot facility in Saxony, Germany, is producing consistent batches of these engineered silicon particles. The site supports product qualification and supply chain validation.
Earlier this year, in June 2023, Altech Chemicals signed an agreement with Kuttner GmbH to establish a high-purity alumina (HPA) coating pilot plant in Saxony. This glazing method uses graphite and silicon particles to enhance anode performance, further strengthening Altech’s technological edge.
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