TDK will begin producing batteries with a silicon anode in the summer, which can store 15% more energy

The Japanese company TDK has been working for several years on improving lithium batteries with a silicon anode, and starting this summer it is going to launch the production of the third generation of such batteries. If initially the use of silicon anodes provided an increase in charge storage density by 5%, now this figure has increased to 15%.

Image source: Unsplash, Tyler Lastovich

The Amperex Technology division in Hong Kong, which is one of the largest manufacturers of batteries for mobile devices, began producing batteries of this type back in 2023. At that time they provided an advantage in charge storage density of 5%, but now this has been increased to 15%. This allowed the Chinese company Vivo to equip its X200 Pro smartphone with a 6000 mAh battery without increasing weight and size compared to models equipped with 5000 mAh batteries.

The potential for silicon anode batteries is also being recognized by LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI, which are developing them for use in electric vehicles. TDK and ATL receive silicon anodes from the American company Group14 Technologies, which has German Porsche AG among its investors and also considers the electric vehicle market its strategic direction for development. Silicon anodes in electric vehicle traction batteries can reduce charging time from forty to five minutes. TDK remains the only company capable of mass production of batteries with silicon anodes. This poses certain risks for its customers, and also prevents them from actively switching to using this type of battery.