Panasonic has signed a supply agreement with UK-based Nexeon Limited for the supply of its advanced silicon anode material. Panasonic has stated it will use Nexeon’s material in EV batteries manufactured at its new facility in Kansas, USA from 2025. Utilising Nexeon’s silicon material will allow Panasonic to increase the energy density of its battery cells, with hopes it will be the first company to successfully mass produce silicon-doped EV batteries.

Why silicon matters

Silicon anode materials have a theoretical capacity that is 10X that of traditional graphite anode materials. The main barrier to entry for silicon materials is the issues around expansion. Silicon expands as much as 300% upon lithiation, which can cause catastrophic cell failure. But what companies, like Nexeon, have been working on is a way to either contain or mitigate this expansion in order to make silicon a viable material for EV batteries.

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Image Source: Nexeon