New academic research from the University of Central Florida (UCF) suggests that C-BATT’s proprietary Obsidia anode material could address one of the most persistent challenges in lithium-ion battery performance: material swelling during repeated charge and discharge cycles.
The findings were presented by UCF professor Dr. Akihiro Kushima at the 50th Annual International Convention and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC 2026). According to the research, Obsidia exhibits significantly lower swelling during lithiation compared with graphite, the most widely used commercial anode material in lithium-ion batteries.
Swelling in battery materials occurs as lithium ions intercalate into the anode during charging, causing volume expansion. Over time, repeated expansion and contraction can lead to cracking, structural degradation, and eventual cell failure. Materials that demonstrate reduced swelling are generally more durable, enabling longer battery lifespans and improved cost efficiency.
Testing conducted by Dr. Kushima and his research team used in situ transmission electron microscopy to observe volume changes at the particle level. The results showed that powder particles of pure Obsidia experienced approximately 5% swelling during initial lithiation and delithiation. By comparison, graphite typically exhibits around 11% swelling, while higher-capacity anode materials such as silicon can swell by as much as 300%.
“Swelling is a major cause of cell failure, and these results are a very encouraging sign,” said Dr. Kushima, principal investigator for the project. “Our measurements show that Obsidia experiences very low swelling compared to traditional materials, which is a strong indicator that it could support much longer-lasting batteries.”
C-BATT views the findings as a key validation of Obsidia’s potential for next-generation energy storage. “Testing from UCF helps confirm that US-made Obsidia can significantly reduce swelling, which is key to building batteries that last longer, perform better, and ultimately cost less for consumers,” said Bill Easter, Vice President of C-BATT. He added that Obsidia appears to offer higher lithium storage capacity than graphite—exceeding 500 mAh/g—while maintaining lower inherent swelling.
C-BATT plans to conduct further testing, including electrode-level swelling studies, larger cell builds, and additional third-party evaluations. The research was supported in part by a matching grant from the Florida High Tech Corridor.
