Honor appears to be doing a very good job of taking the reins from Huawei when it comes to smartphone innovation.
The Honor Magic5 Professional was most likely my favorite telephone of final yr. The Chinese language variant was the primary telephone to ever use silicon carbon battery expertise, which they claimed has 12.8% extra power density than lithium batteries that use a graphite anode. I personally cherished the telephone because it had a tremendous steadiness of flagship specs whereas retaining the worth beneath £1k.
I just lately reviewed the Honor Magic V2, which I feel is an unimaginable piece of engineering, being the thinnest foldable telephone available on the market, with folded dimensions not a lot thicker than a standard telephone. This additionally contains a silicon carbon battery, and it’s probably why Honor has managed to make it significantly thinner than its rivals.
So, what’s so good about silicon carbon, and are we prone to see it utilized in extra telephones in 2024?
What’s a Silicon-Carbon Battery?
A silicon-carbon battery is a kind of lithium-ion battery that makes use of a silicon-carbon anode as an alternative of the standard graphite anode. The important thing distinction lies within the anode materials, which permits greater power density.
The inclusion of silicon considerably will increase the anode’s capability as a result of silicon can accommodate a bigger quantity of lithium ions in comparison with carbon alone. Silicon has a theoretical cost capability of 4200 mAh/g, over 10 occasions greater than graphite’s 372 mAh/g capability.
Nonetheless, silicon was not used initially as a result of it undergoes giant quantity growth as much as 300% when lithium ions intercalate. This may trigger mechanical failure and lack of electrical contact over cost/discharge cycles. This hybrid silicon-carbon anode construction goals to harness the excessive capability of silicon whereas sustaining the structural integrity and cyclic stability supplied by carbon.
What varieties of Lithium-Ion batteries are utilized in cellphones immediately?
Lithium-Ion batteries are the most typical kind of rechargeable batteries in cellphones and are available varied chemistries, every with its personal set of traits:
- Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2): Identified for its excessive power density, this chemistry is prevalent in cellphones and laptops, providing a very good steadiness between power capability and security.
- Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4): This sort supplies a decrease power density however better security because of its thermal stability, making it an appropriate alternative for functions requiring enhanced security options.
- Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2 or NMC): Combining nickel, manganese, and cobalt, this chemistry presents a very good compromise between excessive power density, lengthy life, and security, extensively utilized in energy instruments and electrical automobiles, and more and more in cellphones.
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4): Characterised by its strong thermal stability and security, LiFePO4 presents an extended cycle life however on the expense of decrease power density, making it much less frequent in compact cell units however extra so in bigger electronics requiring excessive security ranges corresponding to transportable energy stations from manufacturers like EcoFlow, Bluetti and Allpowers.
Most trendy smartphone batteries use lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC) or lithium-cobalt-oxide (LCO) cathode chemistry with a graphite anode.
In style NMC variations are:
- NMC111 – 1 half nickel, 1 half manganese, 1 half cobalt
- NMC532 – 5 components nickel, 3 components manganese, 2 components cobalt
- NMC622 – 6 components nickel, 2 components manganese, 2 components cobalt
- NMC811 – 8 components nickel, 1 half manganese, 1 half cobalt
NMC batteries provide greater capability and higher thermal stability than LCO. Excessive-nickel NMC variations like NMC811 even have greater power density however are usually dearer.
Silicon-Carbon vs Lithium-Ion Batteries
| Specification | Silicon-Carbon | Lithium-Ion |
| Power Density | 12.8% greater | 100% |
| Cost Cycles | Comparable longevity | 500-1000 cycles |
| Security | Comparable | Good |
| Price | At present greater | Decrease |
| Maturity | New expertise | Mature expertise |
Professionals & Cons
Professionals of Silicon-Carbon:
- Greater capability for similar battery dimension
- Lasts longer at low voltages
Cons of Silicon-Carbon:
- New expertise, long-term reliability unknown
- At present dearer to fabricate
Professionals of Lithium-Ion:
- Mature and well-understood expertise
- Decrease value
- Good availability of supplies
Cons of Lithium-Ion:
- Decrease power density
- Capability fades sooner beneath stress
How does a Silicon-Carbon Battery work?
The silicon-carbon anode goals to deal with silicon growth points through novel nanostructure designs. The anode includes silicon nanoparticles embedded in a conductive carbon matrix framework.
This framework supplies area for the silicon particles to increase into, stopping mechanical points. It additionally ensures good electrical contact. The result’s an anode that may leverage silicon’s excessive capability whereas being structurally secure.
Aside from the anode, silicon-carbon batteries have an identical development to standard lithium-ion batteries. This consists of lithium-based cathode materials, electrolyte, separators, and so forth.
Throughout discharge, lithium ions movement from the cathode to the anode and are inserted into the silicon to type lithium silicides. The method reverses on cost with lithium ions releasing again to the cathode.
What are the professionals and cons of Silicon-Carbon batteries?
Professionals:
- 12.8% greater power density permitting extra capability
- 240% extra capability remaining at low voltages like 3.5V
- Helps quick charging charges with good effectivity
- Comparable cycle life to lithium-ion
- Low temperature efficiency much like graphite
Cons:
- New expertise, long run reliability and security unknown
- Formation and ageing mechanisms not absolutely understood
- At present greater value than lithium-ion
- Requires proprietary fabrication methods
Whereas silicon-carbon batteries provide glorious efficiency metrics, extra area testing information is required to validate longevity and security. Price can be a barrier for widespread adoption presently.
What’s the distinction between a Silicon-Carbon vs Lithium-Ion battery?
The important thing distinction is the anode materials. Silicon-carbon batteries use a nanostructured silicon-carbon composite anode whereas lithium-ion batteries sometimes use a graphite carbon anode.
The silicon-carbon anode can retailer over 10x extra lithium ions enabling greater power density. Nonetheless, silicon expands dramatically throughout charging which led to mechanical failures early on. The nanostructured design addresses this by offering inner voids and good conductivity.
Aside from the anode, different elements together with cathode and electrolyte chemistry stay much like typical lithium-ion batteries. This makes silicon-carbon batteries good drop-in replacements in present manufacturing strains.
Are there any higher battery applied sciences for cell vs Silicon-Carbon?
Some battery applied sciences that present promise for future cell functions embrace:
Lithium-Sulfur: Excessive theoretical power density of 2500 Wh/kg, about 5x greater than lithium-ion. Nonetheless, has points like low cycle life, self-discharge, and dendrite formation.
Stable State Batteries: Exchange liquid electrolyte with strong various. Allows use of lithium metallic anode for very excessive power density. Nonetheless in early R&D stage with challenges round interfaces and scalable fabrication.
Specialists see silicon-carbon as an interim step earlier than applied sciences like Li-S and solid-state can mature. For now, silicon-carbon presents the perfect mixture of improved efficiency at affordable value.
What telephones use a Silicon-Carbon Battery
Honor was the primary firm to introduce silicon-carbon battery expertise into certainly one of their telephones with the launch of the Magic5 Professional.
Nonetheless, it was solely the Chinese language variant that used this battery, and it has a 5450 mAh battery capability as an alternative of the 5100 mAh battery in world variants, offering a 7% enhance in capability.
The Honor Magic V2, which was launched in China 4 months after the Magic5 Professional, and simply launched globally, additionally integrates a silicon-carbon battery and is probably going an enormous think about Honor attaining a 9.9 mm thickness, which is sort of 2mm thinner than the OnePlus Open and three.5mm thinner than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5.
If silicon-carbon delivers on its guarantees, we’re prone to see a lot wider adoption in telephones from main manufacturers as effectively. I’d hope that the upcoming Honor Magic6 Professional will utilise silicon-carbon for each the Chinese language and world variants. Early leaks declare it has an enormous 5600 mAh capability which might point out that is true.
The expertise stays within the early levels, although, so extra real-world validation is required first.
General, silicon carbon batteries provide thrilling enhancements in power density versus typical lithium-ion. Whereas nonetheless an rising expertise, its drop-in compatibility offers it sturdy prospects to enter mainstream use quickly. Continued advances addressing value and longevity might be very important for broader adoption.
I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Captivated with all issues expertise, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cell, wearables, and sensible house units.
As a health fanatic who loves operating and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related expertise, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My various pursuits enable me to convey a singular perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the newest tech tendencies.
In my educational pursuits, I earned a BSc in Info Techniques Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the expertise curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has persistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high expertise blogs within the UK. With my dedication to expertise and drive to share my insights, I purpose to proceed offering my readers with partaking and informative content material.
