Altech Batteries Ltd has announced a significant milestone in battery technology, achieving an impressive 88.5% capacity retention after 500 charge-discharge cycles using its proprietary Silumina Anodes™ technology. This breakthrough was reported on October 9, 2025, and marks a pivotal advancement in the company’s efforts to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries by integrating alumina-coated spherical silicon into traditional graphite anodes.
The latest tests reveal that a 5% addition of Silumina Anodes™ to a graphite anode has resulted in a retention rate exceeding 88.0% after repeated testing, validating both the consistency and reliability of the results. This development positions Altech at the forefront of battery innovation, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, where higher energy density and longer battery life are critical.
Breakthrough in Energy Storage
Silicon’s potential as a battery material has long been recognized, as it can store nearly ten times more lithium than graphite. However, its use has been limited due to significant volumetric expansion—up to 300%—during charging, leading to mechanical stress and rapid capacity loss. Altech’s Silumina Anodes™ technology effectively addresses these challenges by utilizing alumina-coated spherical silicon particles, which maintain electrical integrity and stability across extensive cycling.
The results of Altech’s testing indicate that while conventional graphite anodes experience a capacity decline to approximately 230-250 mAh/g after 500 cycles, the Silumina-enhanced anode retains about 420 mAh/g, outperforming standard graphite options by over 60%. The initial capacity of 500 mAh/g represents a 40% improvement compared to commercial graphite anodes.
Implications for Electric Vehicles and Beyond
The implications of this advancement are profound. By increasing the anode capacity, manufacturers can design batteries that either enhance total energy density or reduce overall battery size and weight while maintaining driving range. For electric vehicles, this translates into longer ranges per charge and more efficient vehicle performance.
Altech’s innovation also extends to other sectors, such as portable electronics and aerospace, where volumetric energy density is critical. The ability to improve anode capacity by 40-50% typically results in a 20-25% increase in total cell energy, enabling battery manufacturers to optimize their designs significantly.
Altech’s Saxony pilot plant is integral to this progress, currently producing high-quality alumina-coated silicon particles that confirm the technology’s readiness for commercial scale-up. The facility is situated near the proposed commercial site in Saxony, Germany, and supports product qualification and process optimization.
In summary, Altech’s achievement of 88.5% capacity retention with a 5% silicon addition marks a transformative step in lithium-ion technology. It not only enhances energy storage capabilities but also offers a scalable solution for the growing demand for more efficient and durable batteries.
Altech Managing Director Iggy Tan remarked, “These latest results mark a genuine breakthrough for the battery industry. Achieving 88.5% retention at 500 cycles with a 5% silicon addition confirms the stability of our Silumina Anodes™ process.” The company is now poised to redefine the performance standards of lithium-ion technology, providing a compelling case for the broader adoption of silicon-based anodes in next-generation batteries.
