AGC Glass Europe and GDI extend collaboration to develop and industrialize 100% silicon anodes for batteries to replace graphite

On 29 September 2022, GDI, a manufacturer of 100% silicon anodes, and AGC Glass Europe (AGC), a technology innovator and world leader in flat glass for the automotive, solar, and high-tech industries, and Schlenk SE (Schlenk), a German-based leading international manufacturer of metal powders, pigments, and foils for a wide variety of industries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and manufacture an Advanced Silicon Anode to power electric vehicles and decrease dependence on graphite.

On 10 January 2024, GDI and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement on a financial instrument worth €20 million to scale up the production of the silicon anode. The EIB loan will support GDI in developing its 100% silicon anode technology towards gigawatt scale industrial production in collaboration with AGC and Schlenk. Production capacity of 100 MWh is expected by 2026 with planning for 1 GWh capacity by 2029.

AGC Glass Europe, through its business unit AGC Plasma Technology Solutions, will engineer, manufacture and use its state of the art PlasmaMAX™ PECVD coating technology as a production system for ultra-high rate deposition in the mass production of 100% silicon anodes with superior quality, unparalleled uniformity control, and high precursor utilization rates. In addition, GDI has selected the AGC industrial site in Lauenförde near Holzminden in Lower Saxony to provide coating expertise, advanced manufacturing equipment, and know-how.

Silicon anodes have the potential to increase Lithium-ion (Li-ion) cell energy density by over 30% compared with today’s graphite anodes, substantially increasing the range of vehicle batteries. The technology can also enable hundreds of 15-minute fast charging sessions, overcoming the last barrier to broad EV adoption. GDI has verified through third party safety testing that multi-Amp hour, high-energy, Lithium-ion cells with its 100% silicon anode can pass nail penetration testing. The technology will make electric vehicles more attractive to consumers and help to decarbonize the transport sector. Additional applications will include Medtech, drones, laptops, power tools, and construction equipment.

Rob Anstey, GDI Founder/CEO, said: “GDI developed an industry-changing battery technology that needed to be scaled as quickly and efficiently as possible. AGC’s unique industrial experience in the mass production of PECVD thin-film coatings helped us to dramatically accelerate that timeline. With the new financial support, we will now proceed to scale this partnership to industrial scale manufacturing with the EIB, Schlenk SE, and AGC.”

Davide Cappellino, President of AGC Glass Europe said "We are excited to be working with GDI to scale up its 100% silicon anode to GWh production towards the end of the decade. The fact that a US company wants to deliver its first anode Gigafactory in Europe is testament to the skills and technologies we have at AGC."

About Graphenix Development Inc (GDI)

Graphenix Development Inc (GDI) has its headquarters in New York, and a European R&D Center and pilot production facility located in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It is currently qualifying its first MWh-scale “roll-to-roll” production facility in Lauenförde, Germany. GDI has spent the last decade researching and developing industry-transforming next generation energy storage materials and technologies. GDI is backed by leading venture capitalists, industry experts, governments, EIT InnoEnergy, and strategic investors.

About the European Investment Bank (EIB)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. Its key priorities are climate and the environment, development, innovation and skills, SMEs, infrastructure, and cohesion. It works closely with other EU institutions to foster European integration, promote the development of the European Union and support EU policies in more than 140 countries worldwide.

AGC Glass Europe, a European leader in flat glass

AGC Glass Europe produces, processes and markets flat glass for the construction industry (external glazing and interior decoration), car manufacture and other industrial sectors (transport, solar power and high-tech). It is the European branch of AGC, a world leader in flat glass. It has over 100 sites throughout Europe and employs around 15,300 employees.

More information on www.agc-glass.eu (corporate site), www.agc-yourglass.com (glass for the construction industry) and www.agc-automotive.com (for the automotive industry).

AGC Plasma Technology Solutions

AGC Glass Europe entered a new field of business activity by offering its vacuum coating technology to a broad range of industries outside the glass world. Visit the website www.agc-plasma.com to learn more about the equipment and services offered by AGC Plasma Technology Solutions, specialised in developing and industrialising innovative vacuum plasma coating technologies.

About Schlenk

Schlenk SE is an internationally successful family enterprise. Founded in 1879, SCHLENK is a leading international manufacturer of metal powders, pigments and foils. It has two divisions: Schlenk Metallic Pigments and Schlenk Metal Foils. Headquartered near Nuremberg. SCHLENK has production sites in Europe and the USA with 900 employees worldwide.