All-solid state batteries using graphene-protected silicon anodes

禅雅塔风险投资有限公司（禅雅塔）是一家新兴的加拿大高科技材料公司，总部位于安大略省西北部，正在开发一种独特的、与火成岩相关的、流体衍生的石墨源，这种石墨源更容易转化为石墨烯，石墨烯是一种单原子碳层。作为石墨烯解决方案提供商，禅雅塔有意将其技术应用于电池制造等大批量应用。在与滑铁卢大学Pope Group的合作中，石墨烯和相关二维材料在电化学器件中的使用专家，禅雅塔希望使用他们的石墨烯来解决与高容量硅阳极相关的挑战，预计将取代当今锂离子电池中的石墨阳极。该团队的目标是通过用石墨烯保护层包裹硅颗粒，并将这种石墨烯包裹的粉末与新兴的高导电性固态电解质相连接，从而实现固态电池阳极。设计的目的是允许硅膨胀和收缩，而不会引起外部石墨烯外壳的变形，这将保持与内部硅颗粒的离子和电接触。这有望消除与硅阳极和固态电解质相关的所有挑战，使这些有前途的技术成为可能。所得到的阳极设计将被制造成全固态锂离子电池，用于性能评估和失效分析。该项目的成果将为更安全、更持久、可充电的电池铺平道路，用于电动汽车和其他旨在减少二氧化碳和其他污染物排放的绿色技术。该项目的成功将为加拿大创造更多的就业机会，并将为加拿大的石墨经济提供动力，因为这种丰富的加拿大自然资源创造了高价值的产品。

Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (Zenyatta) is an emerging Canadian high-tech materials company based in**Northwestern Ontario which is developing a unique, igneous-related, fluid-derived source of graphite that is**more easily converted into graphene, a single atomic layer of carbon. As a graphene solutions provider,**Zenyatta is interested in implementing their technology in high-volume applications such as battery**manufacturing. In collaboration with the Pope Group at the University of Waterloo, experts in the use of**graphene and related 2D material in electrochemical devices, Zenyatta would like to use their graphene to solve**the challenges associated with high-capacity silicon anodes which are expected to replace graphite anodes in**today's Li-ion batteries. The team aims to enable solid-state battery anodes by wrapping silicon particles with a**protective layer of graphene and interfacing this graphene-wrapped powder with emerging, high-conductivity,**solid-state electrolytes. The designs aim to allow the silicon to expand and contract without causing**deformation of the outer graphene shell which will maintain ionic and electrical contact with the silicon**particles within. This is expected to eliminate all of the challenges associated with silicon anodes and**solid-state electrolytes - enabling these promising technologies. The resulting anode designs will be fabricated**into all-solid state Li-ion batteries for performance evaluation and failure analysis. The results of this project**will pave the way to safer, longer lasting, rechargeable batteries for use in electric vehicles and other green**technologies which aim to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The success of the project**will open up more Canadian jobs and will provide a boost to the graphite economy in Canada as high-value**products are created from this abundant Canadian natural resource.