Project: "Accelerating High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries with Silicon-Based Ceramics Composite Anodes"
Acronym: ASCEND
The project focuses on developing a new generation of materials for lithium-ion battery anodes – materials capable of outperforming the silicon–graphite composites currently in use. At the heart of the project is an innovative Si/Sn@SiOxCy hybrid material, in which silicon and tin nanoparticles are embedded in a stable silicon oxycarbide matrix.
Why is this approach so promising? Silicon and tin can store significantly more lithium than conventional graphite. During battery charging, they form alloys with lithium, paving the way for substantially higher capacities. However, these materials also have an important drawback: during repeated charge and discharge cycles, their volume can change several-fold. Such dramatic expansion and contraction can cause the anode structure to crack, ultimately leading to faster battery degradation.
This is where silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) comes into play. Produced using innovative chemistry developed by Siloxene AG, it can act as a robust, nanoporous matrix that functions like a flexible protective framework: it stabilizes the metallic nanoparticles and absorbs the stresses generated during battery operation. The SiOxCy matrix is obtained through a polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) process, providing a high carbon content, a uniform distribution of nanoparticles, and a strong yet flexible structure.
The resulting material not only protects the anode against mechanical damage but also improves its electrochemical performance. In practice, this means batteries with higher capacity, longer cycle life, and improved operational stability – all while supporting a more sustainable approach to battery technologies.
The project therefore aims to deliver a new generation of high-performance and durable anodes that could help define the next stage in the development of lithium-ion batteries.
Supported by the Swiss Contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the EU and from the state budget through the National Centre for Research and Development
