British solid-state battery manufacturer Ilika Technologies is leading a 24-month, £8.2-million Faraday Battery Challenge collaboration project. Code-named HISTORY, the project’s focus is on integrating high-silicon-content electrodes into the company’s Goliath solid-state battery in order to enable automotive-level performance.

Ilika will receive a grant of £2.8 million from the project and will partner with the manufacturer of battery materials Nexeon, sustainable manufacturing company HSSMI, experts from three UK Universities (St Andrews, University College London and Imperial College London), and technology innovation catalyst CPI. BMW Group and WAE Technologies will join the project’s steering committee.

Ilika will design and fabricate the SSB cell, and Nexeon will develop a high-silicon-content electrode based on its low-expansion NSP-2 material to be used in the anode. HSSMI will deliver an SSB End of Life and Life Cycle Analysis and CPI will formulate inks with the silicon powders. The University of St Andrews will characterize interface and materials interactions, while University College London and Imperial College London will develop a modeling framework that can predict the electro-chemo-mechanical behavior and failure of cells and battery stacks for selected anode materials.

“Solid state batteries have the potential to revolutionize the way EVs are powered,” said Tony Harper, Challenge Director for the Faraday Battery Challenge. “The consortium Ilika is leading is an outstanding combination of UK capabilities designed to drive forward the development of a multi-layer, solid-state pouch cell to deliver the next big step in the safety and performance of EV batteries.” 

Source: Ilika