High-capacity, low-swelling material may occupy a previously empty region of the anode design space, helping increase lithium battery lifetimes.
ORLANDO, FL. (Jan. 26, 2026) – As global demand increases for affordable, longer-lasting, high-capacity energy storage, new research suggests C-BATT’s Obsidia™could help solve one of the most persistent causes of failure in lithium-ion batteries: material swelling during cycling.
University of Central Florida (UCF) professor Dr. Akihiro Kushima, a leader in the field of in situ transmission electron microscopy, will present the findings January 26th at the 50th Annual International Convention and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC 2026), unveiling results that show C-BATT’s proprietary Obsidia™ battery anode material exhibits exceptionally low swelling during lithiation—significantly lower than graphite, today’s dominant commercial anode material. When battery materials swell during charge and discharge, repeated volume changes cause them to crack and break down over time, eventually leading to cell failure. Reduced swelling means batteries can last much longer, making them more reliable and cost-effective.
In testing led by Dr. Kushima and his research team at UCF, Obsidia™ showed approximately 5% swelling during initial lithiation and delithiation. This result was obtained using powder particles of pure Obsidia™. For comparison, graphite typically swells around 11%, while high-capacity materials such as silicon can swell up to 300%.
A comparison of an Obsidia particle vs a nano-silicon particle during lithiation and delithiation, indicating that Obsidia experiences much less swelling than silicon. Courtesy University of Central Florida.
“Swelling is a major cause of cell failure, and these results are a very encouraging sign,” said Dr. Kushima, UCF professor and 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.”
“These results are an important milestone for C-BATT,” said Bill Easter, Vice President of C-BATT. “Testing from UCF helps confirm what we believed, that Obsidia can significantly reduce swelling, which is key to building batteries that last longer, perform better, and ultimately cost less for consumers. As of right now, it appears that Obsidia is the only anode material on the horizon that has significantly more lithium storage capacity than graphite (greater than 500 mAh/g) but less inherent material swelling than graphite. We plan to further prove out this significant advantage by conducting electrode swelling tests, larger cell builds, and more independent third-party testing in 2026.”
The research was made possible in part by a matching grant from the Florida High Tech Corridor, which C-BATT thanks for helping to fund this important UCF study.
Obsidia™ is designed to be produced entirely in the United States and to help ease supply chain constraints by supplementing or even replacing graphite, depending on application needs.
For more information on C-BATT, visit www.cbattmaterials.com.
About C-BATT
Founded in 2023, C-BATT is a joint venture between CONSOL Innovations and X-BATT®. C-BATT is developing Obsidia™ to help solve the ongoing supply chain challenges driven by the electrification movement. C-BATT’s solution improves battery energy density and cycle life beyond what traditional materials can offer. The C-BATT battery lab is in Oviedo, FL, just outside the University of Central Florida. For battery materials development, C-BATT will use CONSOL Innovations’ domestically sourced carbon resources. To learn more about Obsidia™ and C-BATT’s U.S.-based energy solutions, visit www.cbattmaterials.com.
About X-BATT®
Founded in 2019, X-BATT® pioneers tomorrow’s energy-storage materials through curiosity-driven, disruptive R&D. Our mission is to advance energy-storage material science through bold research, innovative materials development, and collaborative partnerships, delivering transformative solutions for a sustainable future. Working with industry and research partners, we move innovations from the lab to production-relevant formats with a focus on safety, performance, and manufacturability. www.x-battinc.com
About CONSOL Innovations
CONSOL Innovations LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Core Natural Resources, Inc., is dedicated to creating long-term value through sustainable innovations in carbon products, carbon materials, and carbon management markets. With a mission to “Reimagine Carbon for a Sustainable Future,” CONSOL Innovations is founded on the belief that our abundant carbon resources, which have fueled human progress since the Industrial Revolution, can also serve as an important building block for meeting the critical and evolving needs of society going forward. The company, with primary operations in Triadelphia, WV, is focused on providing disruptive, carbon-based solutions for growing industries including aerospace, building products, and energy storage. https://corenaturalresources.com/sustainability/consol-innovations/