POSCO FUTURE M said on the 20th that it has secured mass-production technology for silicon anode materials, considered a next-generation battery material. It aims to begin full-scale mass production in 2028.
The silicon anode material developed by POSCO FUTURE M can store more than four times the energy compared with conventional graphite-based anodes. Silicon anodes are typically mixed with graphite-based anodes for use in batteries.
POSCO FUTURE M said that even in tests where the mixing ratio of silicon anodes was raised to 20% or higher, more than 80% of the initial capacity was maintained after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles. In existing batteries, the mixing ratio of silicon anodes was in the single digits. This means the company has secured both high capacity and long-term performance retention.
Despite their high energy storage capacity, silicon anodes have long been flagged for volume expansion during charge-discharge cycles as a key obstacle to commercialization. The POSCO FUTURE M Research Institute applied its proprietary silicon nano-sizing technology and carbon compounding technology to secure commercialization technology that greatly mitigates this expansion issue.
Hong Young-jun, head of the Research Institute, said, "Silicon anodes are a next-generation key material that will determine battery performance," and added, "Based on our accumulated materials technology and mass-production experience, we will provide the best solutions to our customers while continuously expanding our global market competitiveness."