Altech Batteries Ltd has achieved a key milestone in the development of its proprietary Silumina Anodes™ battery material, announcing successful spherisation of coated silicon particles, a 50% improvement in battery capacity, and full commissioning of its pilot plant in Germany. These advances position the company at the forefront of next-generation lithium-ion battery technology.
The Silumina Anodes™ product, developed through in-house research and development, integrates high-capacity silicon into battery anodes, significantly enhancing energy density and battery lifespan. Altech’s pilot plant is now producing the product at commercial sample scale and is ready for customer qualification.
“The next generation of our development, leveraging spherisation technology, has successfully addressed the long-standing challenges of silicon—namely swelling and rapid degradation. We've achieved a battery with 50% higher energy density and enhanced cycle life, all with a modest addition of silicon,” group managing Director Iggy Tan said.
Technological innovation reduces swelling and boosts performance
The latest development focuses on the spherisation of alumina-coated silicon particles, addressing key challenges such as particle swelling and rapid degradation. The spherical form allows the silicon to occupy voids within graphite layers, reducing mechanical stress and preserving electrode integrity.
An optimised formulation containing 5% silicon has demonstrated a 50% improvement in anode capacity.
Altech overcomes pilot plant challenges to produce high-quality coated silicon particles
Altech is accelerating efforts to bring its patented Silumina Anodes™ technology to market, having commissioned its pilot plant adjacent to the proposed commercial facility in Saxony, Germany.
The pilot plant, located at Dock 3, is now successfully producing coated silicon particles as part of the product qualification process for Silumina Anodes™. These high-performance materials are now available for evaluation by potential customers, marking a major step forward in Altech’s commercialisation pathway.
Commissioning the plant was not without challenges. Altech faced multiple delays stemming from late equipment deliveries, inconsistent supply of silicon carbide (SiC) materials, and operational difficulties linked to the ultra-fine silicon powders used in the process—particles measuring less than one micron in size. These fine powders created flowability issues, frequently causing hang-ups and blockages that disrupted stable operations.
Altech’s engineering team has since implemented a series of design refinements and process optimisations that resolved the issues. With the pilot plant now fully operational, the company has entered a critical phase of customer engagement and product validation.
Positioned for market entry and customer trials
The pilot production supports the customer qualification phase and represents a critical step toward full-scale commercialisation.
Altech has executed non-disclosure agreements with major German and North American automotive and battery supply chain companies, with initial testing set to begin.
Altech is now advancing towards full-scale production with an 8,000 tonnes per annum Silumina Anodes™ plant planned in Saxony. The project has received green accreditation and is backed by a secure European silicon supply chain.