SUNRISE (Synthomer UCL Nexeon Rapid Improvement in the Storage of Energy)

Silicon could replace graphite in lithium-ion batteries, storing up to nine times more energy per gram. The SUNRISE project brings together Nexeon’s silicon anode material, Synthomer’s binder, and UCL’s Electrochemical Innovation Lab to find the right process conditions and material design that maximise energy density while minimising first-cycle loss, volume changes, and capacity fade over time. Today’s lithium-ion batteries rely on graphite anodes, which are approaching their theoretical energy limit. Silicon absorbs far more lithium ions, but it swells and degrades during charging, which has kept it out of commercial cells. This project aims to solve that instability. The team will build automotive-grade cells at the National Battery Manufacturing Development Facility and send samples directly to carmakers and cell manufacturers for testing. If successful, the work could push electric vehicles past range and charging limitations without requiring new battery chemistry. It also strengthens the UK’s battery supply chain by linking materials suppliers, academic labs, and industrial production in a single development pipeline.