The Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands or ECN) said the technology was being brought to market by a start-up known as LeydenJar Technologies.

It said the technology would make it possible to increase the range of electric vehicles, make batteries for smartphones and other electronic devices last longer and bring down the cost of sustainable energy storage.

LeydenJar Technologies had produced a pouch-cell prototype cell using the pure silicon anode technology, ECN said.

The 100th cycle in this cell development had been reached with a constant capacity of 1.000 mAh/g. Li-ion coin cells that cycle at high capacities (between 1.000 – 2.000 mAh/g) with 400+ (on going) cycles had also been developed.

ECN said in a statement: "The advantage of pure silicon anode technology is that it has an unprecedented impact on energy density of Lithium-ion batteries, while replacing only the graphite anode with a pure silicon version."

The institute invented the technology using a roll-to-roll PECVD machine that could scale up to mass production.

"LeydenJar Technologies will now develop the technology in two tracks: first as a pouch cell prototype with a targeted energy density of 1.200 Wh/l or 480 Wh/kg, and then as a faster PECVD tool to demonstrate semi commercial production rates," the ECN said.

Paul Wyers, director of solar research at ECN, said: “These discoveries usually concern materials that can only be produced in a laboratory environment on a very small scale.

"What makes our invention so promising is that the technology for mass production of this material is already within reach due to its similarity to an existing production process for solar cells.

"We believe that this gives us a unique advantage. Through the founding of LeydenJar Technologies, we will transfer this technology to the market and create a fit between the battery industry and venture capital investors.”