Hitachi Li-ion Battery + Silicon Alloy Electrode to enhance the capacity by 20%

Hitachi Li-ion Battery + Silicon Alloy Electrode to enhance the capacity by 20%. Hitachi Maxell plans to begin the mass-production of Li-ion rechargeable batteries with the positive electrode made of new material, which can enhance the battery capacity, in 2009.

The silicon alloy-based material is a composite of silicon monoxide containing nanometer sized silicon particles and carbon. The new material features a lower expansion coefficient, and it can enhance the capacity by 20%, compared with the case using graphite.

Hitachi also announced that it will install manufacturing equipment for electrodes of Li-ion rechargeable batteries for use in electrically-powered vehicles such as hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars. The equipment will be built in a new plant in Kyoto, Japan, and its operation will start in March 2009, according to the company. Initially, the electrodes will be provided to Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd.

(source)