UCT Silanes in EV Battery Anodes: Stabilising Silicon with Surface Chemistry

The Application

Silicon anodes promise significantly higher energy density than conventional graphite in lithium-ion batteries. The problem is well-documented: silicon expands during cycling, fractures mechanically, loses conductivity, and fades fast. Solving that means controlling surface chemistry at the particle level.

UCT silanes are doing exactly that in next-generation EV battery development.

The Technology

OneD Battery Sciences (OneD Material LLC) developed SINANODE® technology, integrating silicon nanowires into EV-grade graphite anodes. To stabilise these anodes and monitor their behaviour precisely, OneD incorporated dual reference electrodes into test pouch cells, enabling direct measurement of both anode and cathode potentials rather than just total cell voltage. This prevents potential drift during formation and cycling.

But the real stability gains come from surface treatment.

Where UCT Silanes Deliver

Silicon composite anodes are highly moisture-sensitive. Moisture degrades performance and shortens cycle life. OneD addressed this using UCT's (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl) trichlorosilane (T2492) to create hydrophobic surfaces on silicon-containing particles. The result: a moisture-resistant coating that protects the anode during electrode processing and improves long-term stability.

Beyond moisture resistance, functional silanes tailor particle surface chemistry to control interactions with binders, electrolytes, and other electrode components. Better surface interactions mean better electrode uniformity and better performance. OneD's patent lists 64 UCT silane products applicable to achieving specific surface properties, demonstrating the breadth of what's possible with the right chemistry.

The Results

The patent reports enhanced capacity retention over extended cycling, reduced reference-electrode potential drift, and more stable silicon-containing anodes. As silicon nanowire and thin-film deposition techniques advance, UCT silanes remain an enabling technology for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Why Chromatography Direct

We're so much more than chromatography. UCT's silane portfolio sits alongside our full range of specialty chemicals, SPE sorbents, and analytical consumables. High-quality consumables at unrivalled prices, whether you're working in energy storage, surface science, or separation chemistry.

The home of chromatography consumables, and increasingly, the go-to source for labs pushing into materials science and beyond. Making your lab budget go further without compromising on purity or performance.

Reference

Zhu, Y.; Du, C. Anode, Cell, and Method of Stabilizing an Anode for Use in a Lithium Ion Electrochemical Cell. US20170012325A1, 2019. Patent (Google Patents)

Product: (Tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl) trichlorosilane, P/N T2492