Battery firm Leydenjar ventures into volume production

With the acquisition of an empty factory shell at Eindhoven Strijp-T, Leydenjar is taking the next step toward large-scale application of silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries. According to CEO Christian Rood, it’s the final test for the technology developed in Leiden and Eindhoven to pass. If anode foils with the promised specifications and at the expected cost are churned out from 2026 onward, the sky will be the limit for the startup.

Silicon is an attractive alternative to standard graphite anodes because it accommodates up to 10 times more lithium ions per unit volume. Unfortunately, the material swells and shrinks during charging and discharging to such an extent that it tends to crack, resulting in catastrophic battery failure.