The automotive industry is heading for silicon-based anodes in Li-ion-Batteries. This type of battery is known for its high energy density, which will allow electric vehicles to reach further distances. To optimize the battery management system of the car it is necessary to know the heat generation of the battery materials.

Silicon-based anodes can be assembled with crystalline or amorphous silicon. In this work, a comparison of these two structure types is conducted. The self-manufactured 2032 coin cells consists of a GF/A separator (260 µm), EC/DEC (50:50, 1M LiPF₆) electrolyte, Si/C- and Li-electrodes. With our own battery production line, we are able to control the properties of the Si/C-electrode. Apart from the silicon structure, the coating thickness, additives and particle size can be customized.

Cycling and decomposition experiments were done in a differential scanning calorimeter and in an accelerating rate calorimeter from NETZSCH (Germany). Generated heat during cycling and decomposition temperatures of pure substances, coin cells, pouch- or cylindrical cells were determined by newly integrated battery modules.

The aim of this work is to determine the heat generation and the decomposition temperature as material properties. Moreover, the results will show if there is a difference between crystalline and amorphous starting materials due to the SEI-formation, cyclical or thermal stability. The generated data is used to show the impact of the structure on the thermal performance and stability of silicon-based Li-Ion batteries.