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Highlights
- Altech’s Silumina Anodes™ technology is now ready for customer testing after overcoming key technical challenges.
- Initial alumina coating on silicon particles significantly reduced swelling and first-cycle capacity loss.
- Spherified, alumina-coated silicon particles improve structural stability within graphite electrode.
- Optimising silicon content to 5% has delivered a 50% boost in battery capacity.
- The German-based pilot plant is now operational.
Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC, FRA:A3Y) has announced a significant milestone in its Silumina Anodes™ Project, confirming that all major technical challenges have been resolved and the technology is now ready for customer testing.
To address key challenges associated with using silicon in lithium-ion battery anodes, such as particle swelling, first-cycle capacity loss (up to 50%), and rapid degradation, the company initially coated silicon particles with a nanolayer of alumina. This approach effectively minimised expansion and reduced first-cycle losses.
The company has since advanced to a second phase by spherifying these coated particles and adding additional coatings to the spherical structure. These spherical particles fit more efficiently into the voids of graphite electrodes, allowing movement without damaging the electrode structure and further reducing swelling impacts.
Additionally, Altech’s R&D team has optimised the silicon content to 5%, resulting in a 50% improvement in battery capacity performance.
Altech’s pilot plant in Germany is now operational.
Altech’s Pilot Plant Marks Key Milestone
Altech is progressing toward the commercialisation of its patented Silumina Anodes™ technology. As part of its development strategy, the company constructed a pilot plant near the proposed project site to facilitate the product qualification process.
Located at Dock 3 in Saxony, Germany, the plant is now successfully producing coated silicon particles. For commissioning the facility, the company addressed several technical challenges, including equipment delivery delays, limited availability of SiC materials, and handling issues with ultra-fine silicon powders (measuring less than one micron), which initially caused blockages and flow disruptions.
Through a series of engineering refinements and process optimisations, these issues have been resolved. The pilot plant is now fully operational and delivering high-quality coated silicon particles, which are ready for testing and evaluation by potential customers, marking a critical step toward commercial rollout.
ATC shares were trading 2.56% higher at AUD 0.04 per share at the time of writing on 6 May 2025.
