Sicona acquires Advano and gains New Orleans battery pilot site

Sicona Battery Technologies acquired 100% of New Orleans-based silicon-anode company Advano, according to iGrow News. The acquisition gives Sicona Advano's patent portfolio, bringing its total to 151 patents across 46 families, as well as a New Orleans pilot plant, research labs and cell-testing equipment. Sicona plans to expand the site into a "Super Pilot" facility intended to produce material for more than 3 million battery cells. The company's SiCx silicon-carbon anode process is designed to increase lithium-ion battery energy density while reducing cost per kilowatt-hour.