ASCEND team presents research at Swiss Battery Days at ETH Zürich | Faculty of Chemistry at the Gdańsk University of Technology

The ASCEND consortium took part in Swiss Battery Days at ETH Zürich, where the team presented current research on the development of silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)-based anode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries.

The work focuses on the use of Q-T polysiloxane precursors to produce SiOC ceramics with properties tailored for lithium storage. In particular, the project investigates XenRes® U286 and U361, two acrylic-modified Q-T polysiloxanes developed by Siloxene AG, which can be transformed into ceramic materials through radical polymerization followed by pyrolysis.

A key part of the research is to understand how the chemical composition of the precursor affects the carbon content and structure of the final SiOC material, and how these parameters influence its electrochemical behaviour. Establishing these relationships is important for the rational design of anode materials with improved lithium-storage properties and long-term performance.

The conference also offered an opportunity for the ASCEND partners to engage with researchers and industry representatives working on emerging battery technologies. Such exchanges are particularly valuable for connecting fundamental materials research with technological development and identifying new directions for future collaboration.

ASCEND was represented at the event by Prof. Monika Wilamowska-Zawłocka from Gdańsk University of Technology, Heloisa Ramlow and Dr Gurdial Blugan from Empa, and Dr Matthias Koebel and Silvia Paz Comesaña from Siloxene AG.

The project is supported by Innosuisse and the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) in Poland.