University of Surrey Researchers Unveil "Dense Forest" Nanotube Battery Anode to Massively Boost EV Storage Capacity

University of Surrey researchers develop a 'nanotube forest' battery anode that stores 3,500 mAh/g, offering nearly 10x the capacity of current EV batteries.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 4:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Energy - UK researchers’ lithium-ion battery design

A "Forest" of Nanotubes to Solve Silicon’s Expansion Problem

A long-standing hurdle in battery science—the tendency of high-capacity silicon to expand and degrade during charging—may have found a structural solution in the United Kingdom. Scientists at the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) have introduced a "Vertically Integrated Silicon-Carbon Nanotube" (VISiCNT) design. This architecture grows a dense "forest" of carbon nanotubes directly onto the copper foil typically used in commercial batteries. By coating these nanotubes in a thin layer of silicon, the researchers created a flexible, conductive scaffold that can absorb the mechanical stress of silicon expansion without sacrificing the battery's lifespan.

Tenfold Increase in Energy Storage Capacity

The performance leap offered by the VISiCNT design is substantial compared to the graphite-based anodes found in today’s electric vehicles. In laboratory settings, the new anode stored more than 3,500 milliampere-hours per gram (mAh/g). To put this in perspective, standard graphite anodes typically max out at approximately 370 mAh/g. According to Dr. Muhammad Ahmad, a research fellow at the ATI, this design offers a practical route to harness silicon’s massive storage potential. This breakthrough brings the industry closer to EVs and everyday electronics that can run significantly longer on a single charge while supporting the fast-charging capabilities modern consumers demand.

Scalable Manufacturing for Existing Production Lines

One of the most critical aspects of the Surrey team’s work is its focus on commercial viability. Unlike many lab-based breakthroughs that require entirely new manufacturing ecosystems, the VISiCNT process grows the nanotubes directly onto copper foil—the industry-standard substrate. Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the ATI, emphasized that this approach can be integrated into existing battery production lines with minimal disruption. By growing the structures at speed and precisely tailoring the silicon layer for stability, the researchers have created a technology that is "ready for the real world," potentially lowering the barrier to entry for next-generation battery manufacturing.