By Battery Power Staff
January 8, 2019 | pH Matter today announced the initiation of a $1 million product development project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for engineered materials for lithium ion battery anodes based on an engineered composite of carbon and silicon.
Lithium ion batteries are being increasingly adopted for automotive power applications; however, the lithium capacity of the negative electrode (anode) limits the amount of energy these batteries can store. Improvements to the anode would increase the energy density and lower the battery cost. For electric vehicles, lower battery cost and higher energy density would increase the driving range of vehicles, accelerating their adoption.
pH Matter’s approach to improving the anode is based on an engineered composite of carbon and silicon. The DOE funding is being used to partner with prospective customers to tailor products for their requirements. “This funding will allow us to accelerate development of our anode technology, and demonstrate the technology under automotive battery conditions,” said Chris Holt, Vice President of Battery Technology and director of the project in a press release.
The funding was awarded through the DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
