Cell Design and Materials: Li-Ion

Commonly Used Anode Materials & Performance Tradeoffs Graphite (Synthetic & Natural)

Description

Pro

Con

Graphite - Si/Siox

remains the primary choice for anode materials, most commonly used in blends with Si/SiO. structure enables efficient intercalation and supports considerable storage capacity

first choice for anode, good compromise between capacity and durability, relatively low cost and high availability of raw and recycled materials

limited energy storage capacity, can hinder the development of high-energy-density batteries, growing supply chain risk

Silicon (Si & Sio)

utilized in industry for many years and an established component of industrial production, enables batteries to achieve higher energy densities

achieving higher energy density compared to graphite, avoid huge volume expansion

lower capacity than pure silicon or SiOx anodes, lower cyclability than common graphite anode (up to 10% Si/SiO for stable lifetime)

Li Metal

offers higher energy density than graphite challenges related to volume expansion.

the most energy dense anode challenges related to safety and cycle life, often due to dendrite formation.

high theoretical capacity, higher energy density compared to graphite.

highest theoretical capacity, potentially leading to significantly increased energy density,

higher cost than graphite (per kg) significant mechanical degradation and reduced cycle life.

Prone to dendrite formation during cycling, posing safety risks reducing cycle life.

Source: Battery Report 2023 (pg133), Battery Report 2024 (pg236), Battery Talk: Battery Application Break Down 12/31/2025 (Version 3.0

Extracted from the PDF; charts and images may read imperfectly.