RE:RE:Interesting post re:Limiting Factor acknowledging HPQ NSiRIf Samuel Guerin, science director @Ilika, is the one discussing with The Limiting Factor, that's because he has interests in the fundamentals of HPQ work.
So it could be fair to assume that the company he works for (Ilika.com) is seeing something interesting with HPQ's silicone or anode related technologies when trying to connect some dots between those:
solid state battery silicone ilika - Google Search February 12, 2019: Ultra-thin Solid-State Batteries (Ilika.com) Achieve Record Energy Density - News (eepower.com) March 25, 2019: New research shows highest energy density all-solid-state batteries now possible (phys.org) Nov. 7, 2019: HPQ SILICON ENTERS INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH Li-ion BATTERY MANUFACTURER (hpqsilicon.com) The NDA is a result of the manufacturer showing an interest in evaluating porous silicon wafers made using Silicon (Si) produced by HPQ PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor ("QRR") and Apollon Solar patented process. Specifically, the cased use is to explore using our porous silicon wafers as the anode for their next generation Li-ion Si batteries. Dec. 16 - 2019: Replacing Graphite with Silicon as an anode in lithium-ion batteries | HPQ Silicon Dec. 24, 2019: High-performance anode for all-solid-state lithium batteries is made of silicon nanoparticles (techxplore.com) Silicon has a theoretical capacity of ~4,200 mAh/g, which is approximately 11 times higher than that of the graphite commonly used as the anode-active material in commercial Li-ion batteries. Replacing the traditional graphite by silicon can significantly extend the driving range per charge of electric vehicles. However, its huge volume change (~300 percent) during lithiation and delithiation—charge and discharge—hinders its practical application in the batteries. ...
The team of NIMS researchers (National Institute for Materials Science) has taken another synthesis approach toward high-performance anodes for all-solid-state lithium batteries with commercial silicon nanoparticles. They found a unique phenomenon with the nanoparticles in the solid-state cell: Upon lithiation, they undergo volume expansion, structural compaction, and appreciable coalescence in the confined space between the solid electrolyte separator layer and metal current collector to form a continuous film, similar to that prepared by the evaporation process. The anode composed of nanoparticles prepared by spray deposition therefore exhibits excellent electrode performance, which has previously been observed only for sputter-deposited film electrodes. The spray deposition method is a cost-effective, atmospheric technique that can be used for large-scale production. Hence, the findings will pave the way for low-cost and large-scale production of high-capacity anodes for use in all-solid-state lithium batteries.
Continuing efforts by the NIMS researchers to improve the cyclability in the anode are in progress to meet the requirements of electric vehicles.
June 11, 2020: HPQ SILICON ENTERS INTO 2nd CONFIDENTIAL TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS WITH AN ADVANCED MATERIAL DEVELOPER REGARDING ENERGY STORAGE APPLICATIONS (hpqsilicon.com) Dec. 17, 2020: HPQ NANO Reaches Major Milestones With Gen 1 Nano Silicon Reactor Operational New Era of Low-Cost Manufacturing of Nano Silicon Materials About to Commence Use their patented process and develop a capability to produce commercially porous silicon (Si) wafers and porous silicon (Si) powders;
- The collaboration will allow HPQ to become the lowest-cost producer of porous silicon wafers for all-solid-state batteries and porous silicon powders for Li-ion batteries;
- Develop the hydrogen generation potential of Silicon nanopowders for usage with the Gennao™ system;
- Commercialize, exclusively in Canada, and non-exclusive in the U.S.A., the Gennao™ H2 system, and the chemical powders required for the hydrolysis production of Hydrogen (“H2”).