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From seawater to electricity: What is the amazing story behind the development of sodium-ion batteries?
Facing the wave of global energy transformation, sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) are gradually replacing traditional lithium-ion batteries and are considered to be an important choice for future energy storage technology. With the natural abundance and environmentally friendly properties of sodium, the commercialization of this technology has strong momentum, and many companies have actively explored and innovated in this field.
Sodium-ion batteries use sodium ions (Na+) as charge carriers and are similar to lithium-ion batteries in terms of working principle and battery structure, but they replace the more expensive and less readily available lithium.
Sodium occurs naturally in seawater, making the raw material for this new type of battery more readily available. Moreover, compared with the cobalt, copper and nickel commonly used in lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries can use more iron-rich materials, such as NaFeO2, which not only reduces costs but also reduces adverse impacts on the environment.
The development of sodium-ion batteries can be traced back to the 1990s. Although it was somewhat quiet in the early 2000s due to the rapid maturity of lithium-ion technology, it became popular in 2010 due to the high price of lithium and the negative impact of its mining on the environment. The era has regained attention. This indicates that this technology has entered the commercialization stage and the number of patent applications is increasing.
Development History
The history of sodium-ion batteries can be traced back to the 1970s and 1980s, but after entering the 1990s, lithium-ion batteries had greater commercial potential, so the research enthusiasm for sodium-ion batteries gradually cooled down. It was not until the early 2010s that sodium-ion batteries once again triggered a wave of investment and research as the cost of lithium raw materials continued to rise, and many companies began to accelerate the pace of commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.
How it works
The battery components of sodium-ion batteries consist of a positive electrode made of a sodium-based material, a negative electrode that can be a non-sodium-based material, and a liquid electrolyte containing dissociated sodium salt. During charging, sodium ions move from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, and electrons flow through the external circuit, while during discharge, this process is obviously reversed. This provides a reliable way to store and release energy.
Material selection
The material choices for sodium-ion batteries are very different from those for lithium-ion batteries because the physical and electrochemical properties of sodium require different building blocks. In terms of negative electrode, hard carbon material is the most commonly used one, which has good sodium storage properties and can provide an energy density of 300 mAh/g. Even more exciting is that nitrogen-doped hard carbon is expected to achieve a capacity of 520 mAh/g in the future.
"The development of sodium-ion batteries is both a reflection of technological progress and a response to environmental challenges."
Commercialization process
Currently, several companies around the world are working on the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries, including China's HiNa and CATL, the UK's Faradion, Sweden's Northvolt, and the United States' Natron Energy. These companies have accelerated the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries and are exploring extensive applications in areas such as grid energy storage and electric vehicles.
Challenges
Although sodium-ion batteries have advantages in technology and raw material costs, they still face some challenges. Compared to lithium, sodium's larger ionic radius results in slower intercalation kinetics, which affects the battery's charge and discharge speed. Additionally, applying sodium-ion batteries to electric vehicles remains challenging, although some companies are already exploring this path.
Future Outlook
In the future, sodium-ion batteries are expected to play a more important role in energy storage technology and electric vehicles. With the acceleration of research and development and the promotion of sustainable energy by governments around the world, the commercialization and technological maturity of sodium-ion batteries will trigger a broader energy revolution.
Does the potential of sodium-ion batteries play a vital role in our future global energy transition?
