Computational chemist Abbie Trewin has developed a porous, amorphous carbon material designed to suppress lithium dendrite formation in battery anodes.
The material, created through a one-pot synthesis method, traps lithium ions within a network of interconnected carbon-carbon triple bonds, according to Chemistry World.
Trewin and colleague Gene Lewis spun out the company Gavion from Lancaster University in 2025 to commercialize the technology. The material is synthesized using carbon tetrabromide nodes linked by silyl-alkynyl chains, forming a 3D structure that mimics the pore-size control found in metal-organic frameworks. Conductivity is achieved through the overlap of alkyne orbitals, which allows electrons to quantum tunnel across the network.
The primary utility of the porous carbon lies in its ability to act as a "sponge" for lithium ions when added to graphite anodes. During charging and discharging cycles, lithium dendrites often form, creating a direct electrical connection between the anode and cathode that leads to short-circuits.
Chemistry World reported that adding as little as 1% of this porous material to a graphite anode effectively mitigates this risk while simultaneously boosting total battery capacity.
"It de-risks the whole formation of electrodes," Gene Lewis told Chemistry World. He said that the additive integrates into existing manufacturing processes without requiring significant modifications to production lines.
Gavion currently produces 50g batches of the material, which the team uses to manufacture pouch cells for testing. While current production costs remain at "PhD prices," the team expects that scaling synthesis to the kilogram level will reduce expenses significantly. The material is already reportedly cheaper than other commercial additives like lanthanum titanate.
The company is currently seeking pre-seed funding and has received interest from companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
Regarding the initial challenge of securing support outside of the UK’s "Golden Triangle" of research institutions, Trewin told Chemistry World, "I think it’s [been] a little bit challenging coming from a non-Golden Triangle institution. But we found that once we’ve got through the door and talking to people, [the reaction to our material has] been great."
Beyond improving lithium-ion batteries, the Gavion team is investigating whether the material functions effectively in sodium-ion batteries or with recycled graphite anodes. The research team has tested the additive across a temperature range of –10°C to room temperature, confirming performance stability over several thousand cycles.
| Feature | Performance/Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Function | Traps lithium ions to prevent dendrites |
| Integration Rate | 1% additive into graphite anodes |
| Current Scale | 50g batches |
| Temperature Range | –10°C to room temperature |
By trapping excess lithium ions in its porous structure, the material prevents the growth of dendrites—microscopic, needle-like structures that can pierce battery separators and cause failures.
No, the team designed the additive to be a "drop-in" solution, meaning it can be incorporated into current electrode manufacturing processes without necessitating a complete overhaul of factory infrastructure.
Gavion is a spin-out from Lancaster University based in the UK, currently seeking pre-seed funding to transition from small-batch lab production to larger, more cost-effective scales.