Using silicon instead of carbon, Oxfordshire-based Nexeon has produced 18650 Li-ion cells with a capacity of 3.2Ah.
"Today’s commercial carbon-based Li-ion cells offer capacities of between 2.5Ah and 3.1Ah," said Nexeon. "3.2Ah was carried out at a realistic C/3 discharge rate and we have achieved even higher capacities with lower discharge rates."
Cycle life performance "exceeds that of the best commercial cell when tested under the same conditions," claimed Nexeon.
By optimising this first generation of silicon anodes (see photo below), the firm is expecting 4Ah 18650 cells next year.
Nexeon's key intellectual property is a structured silicon that is claimed to get around the anode expansion problems that have previously ruined silicon Li-ion cells.
