Sienza Energy, a Caltech-incubated battery company that Los Angeles-based philanthropist Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong backs, recently demonstrated how a unique and proprietary 3D nanostructure can address the global EV market's safety concerns.
According to Dr. Azin Fahimi, Sienza CTO, the company's 3D nanostructures improve heat dissipation, preventing localized hotspots and reducing the risk of thermal runaway, making batteries safer and more reliable.
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In March, Sienza announced capacity test results from Mobile Power Solutions, an independent third-party lab. At the time, Professor Mory Gharib, founder of Sienza Energy, said the company's 3D pure silicon anode demonstrated an average gravimetric capacity of 2,941 mAh/g. This means that—for every gram of silicon—their batteries can store 2,941 milliampere-hours of electricity, significantly higher than the industry standard for graphite, which has a gravimetric capacity of 372 mAh/g.
Sienza's unique 3D electrode nano-architecture, high energy and power density, and long cycle life far exceed industry standards when combined with high-quality silicon — even at fast charging rates.
In March, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong said, "Sienza's successful use of pure nano-silicon has created a new paradigm in battery technology." Dr. Soon-Shiong this week said Sienza's 3D nanostructure, combined with the silicon-based anode, provides an opportunity to establish a unique battery with enhanced safety and efficiency.
"As we enter a new global paradigm for state-of-the-art green battery solutions in energy storage, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics, the issue of battery safety becomes of paramount importance," Sienza CEO Dr. Matthew Tasooji added. "Sienza batteries' improved mechanical stability can better absorb and distribute mechanical stress, reducing the likelihood of internal short circuits."
Several devastating battery fires have made EV safety a focal point. In June, more than 100 people were working at a factory in South Korea when a fire broke out and killed nearly a quarter of the staff.
In a statement, Jim Demetriades, CEO of Kairos Ventures, an early investor in Sienza Energy, said, "We are committed to build batteries that can generate, store, and use zero-emission energy to power the world by putting safety front and center."
Dr. Gharib added, "By increasing the surface area of the electrodes, 3D nanostructures enhance the efficiency of electrochemical reactions, thus improving battery performance and longevity without compromising safety."
Spherical Insights and Consulting projects the global lithium-ion battery market to grow to $273.8 billion by 2030.
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