LeydenJar, a battery materials startup based in the Netherlands, has closed a €13 million funding round to scale up manufacturing of its silicon anode technology for an unnamed leading U.S.-based consumer electronics company. The funding, along with a separate €10 million commitment from the same customer, will be used to build the first phase of its new facility, PlantOne, in Eindhoven. The plant is scheduled to open in 2027. Investors Exantia and Invest-NL led the funding round.
Currently, a majority of the world’s lithium-ion batteries and the graphite anodes inside them are manufactured in China. Silicon anode technology has the potential to upend that relationship while also dramatically improving battery performance. Although steady advancements have doubled energy density over the past decade, LeydenJar states its pure silicon anodes can provide a 50% boost over traditional graphite anodes.
Battery manufacturers have long recognized the benefits of silicon, but its delicate nature has prevented widespread use. Silicon tends to swell when storing lithium ions, and without structural support, it crumbles quickly after repeated charge cycles. To solve this, silicon anode startups have developed various scaffolds to prevent breakdown. LeydenJar uses plasma vapor deposition to grow spongy silicon columns on a thin sheet of copper. These columns can swell and shrink, filling the space between them when loaded with lithium.
The company says its silicon structures enable faster charging and have a lower carbon footprint. The technology can withstand over 450 charge cycles before losing more than 80% of its capacity. This shows progress but still falls short of the 1,000 cycles automakers typically require.
While electric vehicles are on LeydenJar’s future roadmap, the company is starting with consumer electronics, a path also followed by competitor Sila. Entering the EV market presents a long road ahead. Automakers usually require years of data before qualifying new batteries, and building large-scale factories to meet demand takes significant time and capital. However, the battery industry is still evolving, and if the company can prove its material offers a major step change in performance without sacrificing durability or manufacturability, it will likely find many eager buyers.