Tel Aviv researchers develop laser method for longer lasting battery anodes

07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Tel Aviv researchers develop laser method for longer lasting battery anodes

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have introduced a laser-based technique to produce silicon-graphene battery anodes that retain more than 98 percent of their capacity after 2,000 charge cycles, a result that could improve the durability of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics.

The method, led by Professor Fernando Patolsky and published in Nano-Micro Letters, simplifies what is typically a multi-step manufacturing process into a single laser pass conducted at room temperature in open air. A mixture of phenolic resin, silicon nanoparticles and common lithium salts is exposed to a low-power laser, generating localized temperatures above 2,000 kelvins. This triggers rapid graphitization while simultaneously embedding lithium into the silicon before the battery is assembled.

The process produces a self-supporting electrode that does not require binders, conductive additives or post-processing, reducing production complexity and potentially lowering costs. Lead author Gil Daffan described the approach as combining stabilization steps into a fast, energy-efficient operation that transforms the precursor material into a conductive carbon matrix containing prelithiated silicon nanoparticles.

Silicon has long been considered a promising anode material because it can store roughly ten times more lithium than graphite, the standard material used in current lithium-ion batteries. However, silicon expands significantly during charging, which leads to structural degradation over repeated cycles. The Tel Aviv team addressed this by embedding partially lithiated silicon nanoparticles within a porous graphene structure that absorbs the stress caused by expansion.

The resulting anodes delivered a specific capacity exceeding 1,700 milliampere-hours per gram, with an initial coulombic efficiency above 97 percent. In extended testing, they maintained 83 percent capacity after 4,500 cycles. Full battery cells paired with lithium iron phosphate cathodes showed no measurable capacity loss over 500 cycles. The researchers also demonstrated production on sheets measuring 20 centimeters in length, indicating potential for continuous industrial manufacturing.

The development comes as the battery industry intensifies efforts to scale silicon-based anodes for commercial use. The team said the method is compatible with widely used lithium salts, including lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and lithium fluoride, and can produce electrodes at rates of several hundred square centimeters per hour. While further validation at commercial scale is required, the combination of simplified fabrication and strong performance marks a step toward mass production of durable silicon-based battery components.