Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous and widely used in cell phones, laptops and electric cars, but are often made from rare and expensive materials such as cobalt and lithium. As demand for electric vehicles and power storage increases, such materials become more difficult to obtain and may become more expensive. In addition, there are problems with lithium batteries in satisfying the growing demand for energy storage on the grid.
Researchers have now developed a sodium-ion battery, and its energy storage capacity and chemical properties are comparable to those of some commercial lithium-ion batteries, which then makes it possible to use abundant and inexpensive materials to create a viable battery technology.
The team reported one of the best results to date on sodium-ion batteries, which have a capacity similar to that of some lithium-ion batteries and can be successfully recharged to hold more than 80 percent of the charge after 1,000 charge/discharge cycles.
On the other hand, sodium ion batteries, made from inexpensive, abundant and sustainable sodium from the Earth's oceans or crust, could be good candidates for large-scale power storage devices. Unfortunately, sodium ion batteries are not as capable of storing energy as lithium batteries. In addition, sodium ion batteries have problems with recharging, but in order to store energy usefully, they need to have the ability to recharge. One of the key problems with this most promising cathode material is the formation of an inactive layer of sodium crystals on the surface of the cathode, which prevents the activity of sodium ions and can eventually cause the battery to fail.
As part of this research, the team created a layered metal oxide cathode and a liquid electrolyte that included additional sodium ions, creating a more concentrated solution of sodium ions that would interact better with the cathode. The team's cathode plan and electrolyte system allowed the sodium ions to continue to move, preventing the formation of inactive surface crystals and allowing the battery to generate electricity in all directions.
The researchers also said, "This research paves the way for practical sodium ion batteries, and the fundamental insights we have gained about cathode-electrolyte interactions provide fundamental ideas for the future development of cobalt-free or cobalt-lite cathode materials in sodium ion batteries, as well as other battery chemistries. If we can find viable alternatives to lithium and cobalt, sodium-ion batteries can truly compete with lithium-ion batteries."
Now, the researchers are working to better understand the important interactions that take place between the electrolyte and the cathode, which can then be used to improve battery planning with different materials. In addition, the researchers want to plan a battery that does not use cobalt, which is also a relatively expensive and rare metal.
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