1414 Degrees (ASX: 14D) has commenced the scale-up phase of its SiNTL silicon nanoparticle anode program as it moves toward commercial engagement with battery manufacturers and potential original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers.
The company is purchasing scale-up equipment to produce manufacturer-relevant quantities of its silicon anode material at research partner George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, DC.
1414 Degrees will use the expanded production capacity to support formal third-party material evaluations, structured OEM qualification processes and potential early revenue opportunities.
The move follows positive testing results at GWU, which established a technical basis for commercialising the battery technology in drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications.
Scale-Up to Support Third-Party Evaluation
1414 Degrees expects the scale-up equipment to improve material consistency through more disciplined process control and deliver larger production volumes for commercial testing.
The company has started discussions with drone and related industry participants and has received inbound interest from companies seeking to trial SiNTL materials.
1414 Degrees is also seeking industry experts in battery materials commercialisation, OEM engagement, and defence and aerospace market development to support the next phase of the program.
Chief technology and operations officer Peter Yaron said the scale-up marked a planned step in the program’s commercial pathway.
“We have demonstrated the performance of the material at laboratory scale and the focus now shifts to producing consistent, higher-volume quantities that enable formal third-party evaluation and meaningful OEM engagement,” Mr Yaron said.
“This is how laboratory results become commercial outcomes.”
Full-Stack Battery Work Begins
1414 Degrees has begun engagement with full-stack contract battery manufacturers to produce complete battery cells incorporating SiNTL anode material.
The company plans to tailor the cells for testing in drones, UAVs, satellites, robotics, aircraft, and other target applications.
Those cells will provide real-world performance data to support commercial and defence-sector qualification processes.
The company views drones and UAVs as a compelling near-term entry point because those platforms place a high value on energy density, payload capacity, and rapid recharge capability while typically operating within cycle life ranges suited to SiNTL’s current development stage.
Initial Capacity Target Advances
1414 Degrees is continuing formulation optimisation and cycle life validation as development advances toward an initial target of 600 milliampere-hours per gram (mAh/g).
The company said that target would sit more than 50% above conventional graphite anodes and about 20% above current commercial silicon-enhanced anode benchmarks.
SiNTL has already achieved a current result of 530mAh/g, with development moving through 550mAh/g toward the 600mAh/g milestone.
The company noted silicon offers theoretical capacity of about 3,600mAh/g compared with about 372mAh/g for graphite anodes, providing potential upside from further development and testing.
Low-Temperature Process
SiNTL is being developed under an exclusive global licence with GWU, where a team headed by Professor Michael Wagner continues to lead technical work to expand capacity and scale up the process.
The material is produced through a low-temperature, single-step synthesis process operating at 125 degrees Celsius to 180 degrees Celsius, with about 97% demonstrated yield and compatibility with conventional lithium-ion battery production lines.
The process avoids hazardous reagents such as hydrofluoric acid or silanes and does not require chemical vapour deposition infrastructure.
1414 Degrees said the manufacturing approach is designed to deliver a materially lower cost base than competing high-silicon anode technologies, supporting its potential pathway to scaled production and commercial adoption.
