Professor Junjie Niu, materials science & engineering, has been awarded a $50,000 IGNITE Grant for Applied Research from WiSys and the Universities of Wisconsin. The grant funds a one-year project aimed at developing more efficient lithium-ion battery technology using an innovative anode material made with low-cost, micro-sized silicon or recycled silicon waste.
Silicon has long been recognized as a promising alternative to graphite, the conventional material used in li-ion battery anodes. It offers significantly higher energy density, packing more energy into a small size and leading to a longer life – an advantage especially important for high-demand applications like electric vehicles.
However, silicon also presents a major challenge: It expands dramatically during charging, leading to mechanical stress and a decline in performance over time.
To address this, Niu’s research will explore a new approach that uses micro-sized silicon particles – sourced from milled scrap silicon rather than costly nanoparticles. These micro-particles will be combined with a conductive polymer to form a composite anode material, replacing the graphite.
The goal is to improve durability by managing the volume changes that typically degrade silicon-based anodes, while managing costs.
The project will evaluate how these silicon micro-particles perform compared to traditional solutions and determine whether this composite material offers superior performance over silicon nanoparticles.
Proposals for the IGNITE Grant were reviewed by experts from private industry, academia, and the UW Office of Academic Affairs. Evaluation criteria included technical merit, the likelihood of successful completion, and the potential for economic impact in Wisconsin.