A research team led by Queen Mary University of London has developed a new silicon-based battery architecture that could significantly improve electric vehicle (EV) performance and reduce costs by up to 30%.
The study, published on 24th October in Nature Nanotechnology, introduces a “double-layer” electrode design that enhances the stability and charging speed of automotive batteries. The researchers say the approach could pave the way for next-generation, high-performance energy storage systems.
The work, led by Dr Xuekun Lu, Senior Lecturer in Green Energy at Queen Mary, addresses a key limitation of silicon anodes. Silicon offers roughly ten times the theoretical capacity of conventional graphite electrodes and enables faster charging. However, its large volume changes—up to 300% during charge and discharge cycles—have limited its commercial viability due to rapid degradation.
Using advanced imaging techniques, the team observed the electro-chemo-mechanical behaviour of graphite–silicon composite electrodes in real time. The insights enabled them to design a double-layer structure that mitigates stress and improves stability, resulting in higher capacity retention and lower degradation.
“For the first time, we visualise the interplay between microstructural design and electro-chemo-mechanical performance across multiple scales, from individual particles to full electrodes,” said Dr Lu. “This opens new avenues for 3D composite electrode design, pushing the limits of energy density, cycle life, and charging speed—key to accelerating EV adoption.”
Professor David Greenwood, Chief Executive of the WMG High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centre, said the findings offer “a much deeper understanding of how microstructure affects performance and degradation”, adding that they provide “a basis for better battery design in the future.”
The research, Unravelling Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Processes in Graphite/Silicon Composites for Designing Nanoporous and Microstructured Battery Electrodes, is available in Nature Nanotechnology.
