Dutch tech firm LeydenJar is preparing to begin commercial-scale production of a new battery anode technology by the end of 2026. The company uses a technique called plasma deposition to create an ultra-thin pure silicon foil for anodes, which are essential battery components. This method allows the silicon to resist cracking, a common issue with pure silicon, potentially increasing battery life, charging speed, and energy density by up to 50%.
Christian Rood, chief executive of LeydenJar, stated that this invention addresses a key bottleneck in battery technology. The company's factory is located in Eindhoven, a city known for its computer chip industry, which Rood described as a source of competitive advantage due to the crossover from semiconductors to batteries.
Another Dutch start-up, Powall, based in Delft, is developing commercial-scale equipment for nanocoating the powder raw materials used in batteries. CEO Roderik Colen explained that these nanocoatings can slow down battery degradation and enable the use of new materials that offer higher capacity or faster charging but typically suffer from durability issues.
Both LeydenJar and Powall are not aiming to build entire batteries but instead focus on critical components. Rood expressed LeydenJar's ambition to secure an important position in the battery supply chain, similar to ASML's role in semiconductor production. Alexander Brown, a senior analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), noted that having advanced technological parts of the supply chain in Europe could offer opportunities for high margins, though China is actively working to develop local alternatives for such technologies.