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The vast majority of lithium ion batteries today use graphite for the anode (negative terminal). It works pretty well but there is a problem. 95 percent of the battery grade graphite in the world comes from China or Chinese owned companies. That makes it difficult to create battery supply chains that meet the restrictions on graphite from China that are baked into the EV incentives in the US and other nations. Group14, based in the State of Washington, says it has developed an anode material it calls SCC55 that utilizes silicon instead of graphite. Not only does it eliminate those supply chain issues, it increases energy density by up to 42 percent and lowers charging times to 10 minutes or less.
In an email to CleanTechnica, a spokesperson for Group 14 said, “With China controlling 95% of global graphite production for EV batteries and recently moving to restrict exports, Group14’s ability to fully replace graphite with silicon could fundamentally reshape global battery supply chains. This isn’t just about better battery performance — it’s about energy independence. While other companies have tried for decades to fully replace graphite with silicon, stability issues made it unfeasible — until now. Group14 has not only solved this technical challenge but is already manufacturing their solution at scale. Group14 is building the world’s largest factory for advanced silicon battery material in Moses Lake, Washington.
“The implications are transformative. Battery makers can eliminate dependence on graphite entirely while achieving 42% higher energy density Manufacturers can produce batteries locally using Group14’s synthetic material, rather than relying on imports The technology works with existing manufacturing processes, enabling rapid adoption. Group14 is building factories across the US, Europe, and Asia to enable regional production. This is a compelling story about how scientific innovation could free the battery industry from its reliance on a single dominant supplier.”
Group14 Silicon Battery Technology
In a press release, Group14 says its investors and customers include Porsche, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, OMERS, Lightrock Climate Impact Fund, Decarbonization Partners, Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), BASF, Resonac, and SK Inc. In the same announcement, Sionic Energy, a leader in electrolyte and silicon battery technology said lithium-ion battery manufacturers no longer need to rely on graphite for their anodes. Using Group14’s silicon-carbon composite SCC55 for 100 percent of the anode material, Sionic says it can deliver the highest energy density performance in any silicon battery. Designed for seamless integration into any existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing process, Sionic’s Silicon Battery Platform maximizes silicon material performance with regard to energy density, extended cycle life, and rapid charge rates.
Sionic’s 100% silicon batteries, powered by Group14’s SCC55 technology, are designed to achieve specific energy performance of at least 330 Wh/kg and energy densities of at least 842 Wh/L, proven with a cycle range of up to 1,200 full cycles in 4Ah to 10Ah cell formats. Verification is also underway with Sionic’s platform in a 20Ah cell format designed to deliver energy density of 370 Wh/kg and 1000 Wh/L. Those battery cells are expected to ship to customers beginning in 2025. Sionic’s Silicon Battery Platform accommodates cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic cell formats, enabling the company’s platform licensing model to expedite and broaden adoption in major commercial markets.
“Having worked extensively with several leading silicon materials in our product designs over the past several years, we’ve chosen Group14 as the best-in-class performer to launch our Silicon Battery Platform,” said President and CEO of Sionic Energy, Ed Williams. “Group14’s customers continue to raise the bar for battery performance, and we are pleased to support Sionic’s silicon batteries with an anode powered entirely by Group14’s SCC55,” added Dr. Rick Costantino, co-founder and CTO of Group14 Technologies, the world’s largest global manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery materials.
As the industry seeks to enhance lithium-ion battery performance, silicon has emerged as the key material for anodes, facilitating this next-generation battery composition. Sionic aims to launch the market’s best-in-class silicon material integrated into Sionic’s Silicon Battery Platform, which embeds cutting edge anode, electrolyte, and cell technologies. This collaboration is set to deliver market leading performance across the transportation, consumer electronics, and aviation industries. The high energy density levels are expected to be especially welcome by companies involved in bringing electrification to the aircraft industry.
Paraclete Goes Group14 Two Better
CleanTechnica readers know we get more announcements of battery breakthroughs each week than there are sunflowers in Tuscany. Another press release that hit the teletype machines in our communications center recently came from Paraclete Energy located in Chelsea, Michigan, which claims its proprietary SILO Silicon highly conductive, polymer matrix technology delivers energy densities that are up to 300 percent greater than graphite and 200 percent higher than competing silicon anodes. (Group14 would probable beg to differ with that statement.)
Batteries using SILO Silicon are 33 percent less expensive per kilowatt hour than traditional carbon based products like graphite. Paraclete Energy’s distributed manufacturing capability enables production plants near or at a customers’ site further enhancing efficiency and reducing costs, the company says. A recent study showed the SILO Silicon technology can reduce the weight by of batteries by 50 percent while doubling the driving range.
“As a company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of battery innovation, our latest study underscores SILO Silicon’s potential to redefine the EV landscape,” said Jeff Norris, CEO of Paraclete Energy. “Our data driven approach demonstrates not only substantial reductions in battery weight and size but also a remarkable increase in driving range. These advancements address critical consumer demands for more efficient, affordable, and sustainable electric vehicles.”
The comprehensive study reveals that utilizing SILO Silicon allows for a standard 80 kWh battery pack to be downsized from approximately 7,000 battery cells weighing 565 kg to fewer than 2,000 battery cells weighing just 150 kg. This 73 percent weight reduction significantly enhances vehicle performance and efficiency while still achieving the same driving range. Furthermore, a 300 kg battery pack configuration utilizing SILO Silicon delivers 160 kWh of power, effectively doubling the standard driving range from 290 miles to over 580 miles while reducing battery weight by 50 percent.
The SILO Silicon technology directly addresses two of the most pressing barriers to EV adoption — cost and range anxiety. By minimizing the size and weight of battery packs, manufacturing costs are substantially lowered, while the enhanced energy density ensures longer driving distances. These findings position SILO Silicon as a pivotal technology in accelerating the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles. Norris added, “We believe that SILO Silicon not only meets but exceeds industry standards, providing a viable path forward for EV manufacturers seeking to deliver superior products to consumers.”
Will either of those announcements translate into better batteries with higher energy density, lower cost, and longer range? Possibly. Our research librarian found several stories about silicon anodes going back at least three years. When we know more, you will know more.
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