Project: "Accelerating High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries with Silicon-Based Ceramics Composite Anodes"
Acronym: ASCEND
The project focuses on developing a new generation of sustainable materials for lithium‑ion battery anodes—materials that can outperform today’s common silicon–graphite combinations. At its core lies an innovative hybrid material, Si/Sn@SiOxCy, in which silicon and tin nanoparticles are “embedded” within a stable silicon oxycarbide–carbon matrix.
Why is this so promising? Silicon and tin can store far more lithium than traditional graphite. During battery charging, they form alloys with lithium, which allows for much higher storage capacity. But these materials also come with a challenge: their volume can change dramatically—sometimes by several hundred percent—during charge–discharge cycling. This repeated swelling and shrinking leads to structural damage and ultimately shortens the battery’s lifespan.
This is where silicon oxycarbide (SiOC), produced using innovative chemistry developed by Siloxene AG, becomes crucial. SiOC can act as a robust, nanoporous matrix that behaves like a flexible shield: it stabilizes the metallic nanoparticles and absorbs the mechanical stress caused by volume expansion. The SiOxCy matrix, created through the polymer‑derived ceramics (PDC) process, is carbon‑rich and provides a strong, uniform, and structurally resilient environment for the embedded nanometals.
This architecture not only prevents mechanical degradation but also enhances the electrochemical performance of the anode. In practice, it translates into batteries with higher capacity, longer lifespan, and improved operational stability—all achieved with a more sustainable approach to materials engineering.
The outcome of the project will be a new generation of high‑performance, durable, and more environmentally responsible anodes for lithium‑ion batteries.
