Oxfordshire-based silicon anode start-up Nexeon has pulled in a £40m series C funding round, bringing total investment to £55m.
The firm is developing technology from Imperial College that can replace carbon anodes in Li-ion cells to increase their capacity.
"Nexeon plans to use the new funding to establish a manufacturing facility, scaling up the production of its latest silicon anode materials to around 250 tonnes per annum, representing a commercial supply level," said the firm.
"It will definitely be in the UK," added a spokesman, "We are deciding where in the UK now."
The C round was lead by Imperial Innovations Group and includes Invesco Perpetual - both existing investors.
"The investment comes at an ideal time as progress is being made in commercial negotiations and customer-led projects," claimed Nexeon. "Customer traction is now being gained with global companies in the fields of consumer electronics and automotive in particular."
The firm has hit its Q4 2011 cell capacity targer early, achieving 4Ah (C/3 discharge) in a 18650 battery recently, said the spokesman.
And, cycle life?
"What we get with silicon currently is similar to what is seen in the high capacity carbon-based cells on the market," he said.