The team said that initial tests have demonstrated that the battery is safe and long lasting and believe it holds promise for applications such as grid storage or electric vehicles.
Silicon anodes typically have an energy density around 10 times greater than the graphite anodes most often used in lithium ion batteries. But the anodes also expand and contract as the battery charges and discharges and degrade quickly with liquid electrolytes.
Until now, these factors have kept all-silicon anodes out of commercial lithium ion batteries despite their tantalising energy density.
“With this battery configuration, we are opening a new territory for solid-state batteries using alloy anodes such as silicon,” said Darren HS Tan, the lead author on the paper.
Next-generation solid-state batteries with high energy densities have always relied on metallic lithium as an anode.
But that places restrictions on the battery charge rates and need for elevated temperature...