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Panasonic Energy will use Sila’s next-gen silicon anode material for EV Batteries

January 10, 2024

Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. has announced a partnership with Sila Nanotechnologies for the procurement of next-generation silicon anode material for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Sila’s Titan SiliconTM high-performance material is expected to significantly improve the energy density of the batteries.

Titan SiliconTM outperforms conventional silicon by offering higher capacity as well as suppressing expansion during charging, which has been a longstanding challenge of the material. The use of silicon is key to improving battery performance, as it has in theory 10 times the capacity of graphite, a material commonly used in the current production of lithium-ion battery anodes.

However, silicon’s charging-induced expansion, leading degradation of battery performance, has spurred years of industry research to address the issue. Leveraging its battery technology and the partnership with Sila, Panasonic Energy is aiming to replace a higher proportion of graphite in the anode material with silicon, enhancing energy density.

This is expected to help deliver improved EV performance, increased vehicle range, and reduced charging times. For years, Panasonic Energy has been actively developing technology to master the use of silicon materials, successfully mass-producing the industry’s first silicon-based EV batteries. To achieve a 25% increase in battery energy density, from the current level of 800Wh/L to 1,000Wh/L by 2031, it is essential to incorporate next-generation silicon materials in its battery development.