Pisa Researchers Help Boost Electric Car Range with Silicon-Based Batteries

Electric cars may soon travel much farther on a single charge, thanks to a new silicon-based electrode that could revolutionize lithium batteries. The breakthrough, published in Nature Nanotechnology, was led by Xuekun Lu from Queen Mary University of London, with the University of Pisa as the only Italian partner. The Pisa team was represented by Professor Antonio Bertei from the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering.

The study shows that increasing the proportion of silicon in lithium batteries can significantly extend the range of electric vehicles without reducing battery lifespan. The new design features a dual-layer anode with a high silicon content, capable of storing much more energy than conventional graphite anodes.

Until now, silicon use in batteries was limited because the material expands during charging, causing it to degrade quickly. The new architecture solves this issue by stabilizing the internal structure and maintaining performance over many charge–discharge cycles.

According to Professor Bertei, this innovation “opens the way to a large-scale, economically viable use of silicon in lithium batteries.” Further testing and industrial-scale development will be needed before commercialization, but the potential impact on the electric mobility sector is substantial.

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