Smartphone and Watch Usage Time Doubled... Enchem Becomes World's First Supplier of Electrolyte for Silicon Batteries

Three-Year Supply to U.S. Silicon Battery Manufacturer
Stable Performance Even at 4.5V High Voltage

Enchem, a company specializing in secondary battery electrolytes, will become the first in the world to supply electrolytes for "100% silicon batteries," which are expected to more than double the battery life of IT devices such as smartphones and smartwatches.

Exterior view of Enchem's factory located in Georgia, USA. Enchem

On December 1, Enchem announced that it plans to sign a supply contract for electrolytes with a California-based silicon battery manufacturer after more than five years of development. The contract covers the supply of 1,000 tons of electrolytes over three years, from 2026 to 2028. The electrolytes will be produced at Enchem's Zhangjiagang plant in China and supplied to the customer's factory in Penang, Malaysia.

Typically, applying just 25% silicon can significantly increase battery capacity. However, the technology to use 100% silicon is considered revolutionary, as it can achieve more than double the energy density compared to conventional batteries.

For this contract, Enchem developed an electrolyte composition that operates stably with a 100% silicon anode and in high-voltage cells of 4.5 volts (V) or higher. While conventional batteries operate at 4.1 to 4.4V, high-voltage technology above 4.5V is rapidly expanding to improve capacity. At higher voltages, electrolyte decomposition occurs more easily, making special solvents and protective film-forming additives essential to suppress this.

Research has continued to increase the proportion of silicon in the anode beyond the capacity limits of graphite, but typically only about 10% could be used stably. By combining with the customer's innovative cell design, Enchem has implemented electrolyte additive technology that ensures stability even with a 100% silicon anode, thereby securing both reliability and performance.

The contract customer, established in California in 2007, is a lithium-ion battery specialist that manufactures high energy density batteries for IT devices such as smartphones, wearables, and AI glasses. The company leads the industry in advanced silicon anode battery technology and has demonstrated exceptional innovation and competitiveness in targeting specific IT markets, including being the first in the industry to successfully mass-produce 100% silicon anode batteries.

An Enchem representative stated, "With this supply contract, we will strengthen our research personnel for high-performance electrolytes that combine high energy density, fast charging, and safety," adding, "We will continue to enhance Enchem's technological competitiveness by expanding the application of our products to a wider range of areas beyond electric vehicles."