South Korea's POSCO FutureM, US-based Sila, partner on silicon anode battery tech
POSCO FutureM, the battery materials arm of South Korea’s POSCO Group, has teamed up with U.S.-based Sila Nanotechnologies to pursue joint development of next-generation battery materials. The collaboration centers on combining POSCO FutureM’s cathode and anode materials know-how with Sila’s silicon anode technology.
The memorandum of understanding was signed at the Coex convention center in Seoul on the 11th, with POSCO FutureM's Tech Research Laboratory head Hong Young-jun and Sila founder and chief technology officer Gleb Yushin in attendance. POSCO FutureM later announced the alliance on the 13th.
Under the agreement, the two companies will develop advanced battery materials by integrating their respective strengths—POSCO FutureM’s materials engineering with Sila’s silicon anode technology. Silicon anodes are noted for their potential to significantly increase energy density compared with conventional graphite anodes.
Silicon anodes are reported to offer up to 10 times the energy storage capacity of traditional graphite. If commercialized, this could translate into longer electric-vehicle range and faster charging, though practical use has been limited by challenges in battery expansion and structural deformation during charging and discharging.
To address those issues, the partners plan to use carbon nanotube materials to suppress expansion and minimize structural changes, with the goal of extending battery life. They will also evaluate applying POSCO FutureM’s carbon materials know-how to improve the cost competitiveness of silicon anodes.
Sila Nanotechnologies is California-based and specializes in high-performance silicon anode technology. The company works with major automakers and battery manufacturers, and operates a silicon-anode production facility in Moses Lake, Washington.
Hong Young-jun said the collaboration aims to blend each company’s top-tier leadership to advance advanced battery materials, and that the partnership will be developed not only in technology development but also in supply chains. The deal reflects growing cross-border cooperation in advanced energy storage to bolster U.S. and global EV supply chains.