THE FUTURE ROADMAP OF SODIUM-ION BATTERIES FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND TOP TEN SIB MANUFACTURERS IN CHINA
vijay tharad
Director Operations at Corporate Professional Academy for Technical Training & Career Development
The Future Roadmap for Sodium-Ion Batteries
The energy storage conversation is buzzing with sodium-ion technology, and rightly so. It is the humble sodium that is accelerating the energy transformation worldwide. The modern economy is pushing the demand for affordable and eco-friendly energy sources.?
The scarcity of lithium supplies is the driving factor behind the growing need to tap into alternative battery systems for large-scale energy storage. When it comes to the quest for sustainable post-lithium batteries, research shows a promising alternative in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).?
While the lithium market is showing a supply deficit in relation to demand, the sodium market looks promising with a balanced level of demand and supply. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) may not cater to the future demand for cost-effective and sustainable energy storage.?
However, the relative abundance and low cost of sodium position it as a popular choice for next-generation battery technologies. The sodium-ion battery is slowly but steadily gaining a competitive edge in the global battery market.?
Let us get to know the ins and outs of sodium-ion batteries and, of course, the future roadmap.?
1. History and Background of Sodium-Ion Batteries?
In 1807, Sir Humphry Davy—an English chemist and inventor—discovered sodium by the electrolysis of sodium hydroxide. The alkali metal is well known for its versatile uses.?
Although the history of sodium-ion batteries goes back to the 1980s, lithium-ion batteries took center stage in the 1990s due to their high energy density that proved successful for energy storage needs.?
A decade ago, the focus shifted to sodium-ion batteries because of an alarming awareness of dwindling lithium supplies globally. As batteries are ubiquitous in our lives, they need to provide value for money—consistently and cost-effectively.?
Is it difficult to find the best compromise between sustainability and maximization of battery performance? It is not difficult but doable.?
The main factors that determine battery efficacy include:
Sodium-ion batteries score well on the above parameters except for energy density that needs augmentation to compete on par with lithium-ion batteries. Now, we will see the components of a sodium-ion battery.???
2. What is a Sodium-Ion Battery?
A sodium-ion battery is a powerhouse of performance that optimizes a sodium-ion cell for electric output. Before diving deep into the working principle of a sodium-ion battery, it is good to know some key terms related to the sodium-ion battery.?
Battery: A battery is a device that converts chemical energy into electricity/electrical energy.?
Sodium: Sodium (Na) is a highly reactive, soft, silvery-white chemical element with an atomic number 11. Its symbol is derived from the Latin name, Natrium.?
Ion: An ion is an atom or a group of items with a net electric charge due to the gain or loss of electrons.?
Electrode: An electric conductor that carries electric current and is vital to producing a battery’s electric charge.?
Anode: An anode is where oxidation takes place during the discharge process. It acts as an electron acceptor.?
Cathode: A cathode is where reduction takes place during the discharge process. It acts as an electron donor.?
Electrolyte: It is the ionic medium for current transfer.?
Separator: A separator is a polymer-based membrane that is porous and acts as an electrical insulator to prevent an internal short circuit. It facilitates ion transport and averts contact between the anode and cathode.?
Solvent Mixture: A solvent mixture is an electrolyte solvent that enables high ionic conductivity and has a wide operating temperature range.?
Al Current Collector: Aluminum foil acts as a suitable current collector because it provides high electrical conductivity and stability.?
Binder: Binder materials prevent electrode swelling and hold active material particles within an electrode together.?
Intercalation: The process refers to the reversible inclusion of ions between layered materials or structures.?
Deintercalation: The process refers to removing molecules inserted between layered materials or structures.?
3. How Does a Sodium-Ion Battery Work?
?SODIUM BATTERIES: THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE?
The battery sector is bustling with innovation. Research into increasingly efficient and higher performance technologies that can bring added value to the market never stops.
The last few years has seen a renewed interest in sodium-ion batteries, largely because of the economic benefits they yield.
Sodium-ion batteries are definitely growing in popularity in the fields of energy storage and electric mobility. However, these batteries still suffer from a number limitations that need to be resolved before they can be marketed for a large range of applications.
Let’s find out together what sodium batteries are and their characteristics.
Sodium Ion Battery: The Definitive Guide
Among rechargeable batteries, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play an important role in many fields of energy storage systems. However, the price of lithium batteries are getting higher and higher. Many company start to develop Sodium Ion Battery, since thee big advantage in price and lifespan.
This article will take you to know details of Sodium Ion Battery.
What Is Sodium Ion Battery?
The sodium-ion battery (NIB or SIB) is a type of rechargeable battery. similar with lithium-ion battery. But using sodium ions (Na+) as the charge carriers.
Battery Structure
Below picture shows a schematic diagram of a sodium-ion battery. The structure of sodium-ion batteries is similar to that of lithium-ion batteries.
The working principle and cell construction are almost identical with lithium-ion battery types. But sodium compounds are used instead of lithium compounds.
What Is The Working Principle Of Sodium Ion Battery?
Sodium-ion battery cells consist of a cathode based on a sodium containing material, an anode (not necessarily a sodium-based material) and a liquid?electrolyte?containing dissociated sodium salts in?polar?protic?or aprotic?solvents.
During charging, sodium ions are extracted from the cathode, and inserted into the anode while the electrons travel through the external circuit.
During discharging, the reverse process occurs where the sodium ions are extracted from the anode. And re-inserted in the cathode with the electrons travelling through the external circuit doing useful work.
What Is The Unique Advantage Of Sodium Ion Battery ?
Price advantage
Just as statistics data of statista, with the increasing demand for lithium batteries, the price of lithium carbonate as a raw material has risen wildly. In the end of 2021, the price of Lithium Carbonate are reach $17,000/Ton.
However, the price of Sodium only need $2000/Ton.
The raw material price are related with the content in the crust. According to testing and statistical analysis, The sodium content is 1351 times (23000/17) than the lithium content. That also is the reason why the price of lithium are expensive than sodium.
So for final cost of batteries , the Sodium ion batteries will reduce 30%~40%, compare to Lithium ion batteries. Below picture to show the details.
Environmentally friendly
There nearly no heavy metal elements can pollute the environment, Sodium ion battery is completely safe and environmentally friendly.
We can foresee that sodium-ion batteries will become sustainable low-cost alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for all kinds applications.
Such as low speed electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage (ESS).
Increasingly shifting to wind, solar and hydropower, they rely on battery energy storage for uninterrupted, all-weather performance.
More Safety
According to the reseach of the Jerry Baker team of Faradin UK,, The Sodium-ion batteries can actually be safely discharged to 0 V (true 0% SOC). Which can obviously reduce the danger probability of the battery during transportation and storage.
Excessive discharge (below 0% SOC) of graphite-based Li-ion batteries can significantly reduce the cycle life of the battery.
Or may lead to fire/explosion due to internal short circuit caused by the deposition of metallic copper on the cathode.
But for Na-ion batteries, the anode uses a lighter and cheaper aluminum current collector substrate, which enables it to be safely discharged to 0 V.
And helps to improve the specific energy and reduce the cost of Na-ion batteries.
The ability of sodium-ion batteries to safely discharge to 0 V will benefit not only consumers, but manufacturers of sodium-ion batteries in many ways.
How Many Kinds of Sodium Ion Battery Are There?
NaMnO2
Hina Energy are specially develop a NaMnO2 battery(Sodium Ion Battery, NaNi0.12Cu0.12Mg0.12Fe0.15Co0.15Mn0.1Ti0.1Sn0.1Sb0.04O2)， the typical parameter as below,
(1) Working voltage: 3.2V.
(2) Working temperature: -40℃~80℃.
(3) Cycle life: ≥4500 cycles@83% (2C/2C).
(4) Energy density: ≥145Wh/kg.
(5) Rate performance: 5C capacity ≥ 90% of 1C capacity.
(6) Storage performance: Stored at room temperature for 28 days with charge retention ≥ 94% of rated capacity, and charge recovery ≥ 99% of rated capacity.
Na3V2(PO4)2F3
Alistore-European research agency built an 18650 cell using an Na3V2(PO4)2F3 cathode and a hard-carbon anode. And it demonstrated 75 Wh/kg and 4000 cycles at the 1C rate. But this Sodium battery are still under development.
Na2FeFe(CN)6
Alarch agency specially developed a Sodium ion batteries, who’s composition is NaxFe[Fe(CN)6] with x>1.9.
This material is ideal as performance positive electrode in sodium-ion batteries and can be paired against anode materials which do not contain sodium.
Ideal storage is under inert conditions in order to maintain quality over the longer term. Nominal voltage 3.25 V on average, capacity ~160 mAh g-1.
Altris Sodium Ion Battery Spec
Na2Fe2(SO4)3
What Is The Application Of Sodium-ion Battery?
Due to the lower cost, many cycles, and basically no pollution to the environment, sodium batteries will eventually be favored by energy storage and low-speed vehicles. Typical applications are as follows.
1. Solar Energy Storage System
2. Home Energy Storage System
3. Low Speed Vehicle
4. Electric boat
Who Makes Sodium Batteries? Top 3 manufacturer.
Faradion
Faradion Energy is an British company. Who was started in 2011, by Dr Jerry Barker, Dr Chris Wright and Ashwin Kumaraswamy, to develop and bring to market sodium-ion technology.
It was founded that sodium-ion batteries are cheaper and safer than lithium-ion batteries. But a higher energy density and a wider operating temperature range than other batteries.
With this combination of cost, safety and performance Faradion’s sodium-ion batteries are now being manufactured by our licensees and partners to demonstrate the benefits of the technology in real-world applications.
Natron Energy
Natron Energy is an American company. Who’s solutions for these challenging industrial power and grid storage applications. Its sodium-ion cells are based on Prussian blue electrodes that enable unique power, life, and safety: full discharge and recharge in just minutes. And up to 50,000 deep discharge cycles from a nonflammable, fault tolerant system.
Below is the performance of Natron Energy, also you can get the spec here..
CATL
CATL released the first-generation sodium-ion battery in mid-2021. He plans to establish a basic industrial chain by 2023.
CATL said at the launch that it has been working on research and development materials for sodium-ion battery electrodes for years.
The company says its first-generation sodium-ion batteries, which can achieve energy densities of up to 160Wh/kg, and is now targeting more than 200Wh/kg.
Sodium Battery VS Lithium Battery VS Lead Acid Battery
Battery Performance
WHAT ARE SODIUM BATTERIES AND HOW DO THEY WORK: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES VS. LITHIUM BATTERIES
Like lithium, sodium is an alkali metal found in Group 1 of the periodic table.
The two metals are placed precisely one under the other in the first column of the periodic table, meaning they share a number of physical and chemical properties.
These similar properties led researchers to carry out the first studies on sodium batteries between 1970 and 1990, about the same time as the studies on lithium batteries. The latter, however, ended up enjoying greater success and went on to be commercialised, putting the sodium battery on the back burner.
what do sodium batteries and lithium batteries have in common?
The working principle underlying sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries is practically the same and many electrode materials used in sodium-ion technology were borrowed from lithium-ion technology.
Both technologies, in fact, use ions to carry and store energy. Sodium ions move from the cathode (positive electrode) to the anode (negative electrode) through the electrolyte and separator, carried by the electrical current during the charging phase. During discharge, the ions return towards the cathode and a stream of electrons, i.e. electric current, flows in the external circuit in the opposite direction with respect to the charge.
The cathode is the positive pole of the battery and is made up of cathode material (e.g. LFP, NMC) and current collector. The anode, the negative pole of the battery, is made up of anode material (e.g. carbon or graphite) and the current collector.
A sodium cell is basically made up of a cathode consisting of a material capable of containing sodium, an anode generally made of carbon, and a liquid electrolyte containing sodium atoms in ionic form. The electrolyte is an organic liquid that fills the cell’s internal volume, acting as a connecting link between the cathode and anode that enables the ions to move.
Image taken from the article Daniel, C.; Besenhard, J.O. Handbook of Battery Materials; John Wiley & Sons: Weinheim, Germany, 2012
How do sodium batteries and lithium batteries differ?
There are substantial differences between the two elements from a purely chemical point of view. The atomic radius of a sodium cation is 0.3 ? larger than the lithium counterpart. This means that its atomic weight and mass is over 3 times larger than that of lithium.
This alone brings significant technical problems in need of a solution: in the movement between the anode and cathode, the mass of the sodium atom, being 3 times larger than that of lithium, creates greater mechanical stress that translates into high deterioration of the cell.
As a consequence, sodium batteries have a short cycle-life and do not perform as well as lithium batteries because graphite, which is the anode material most commonly used in lithium batteries, suffers irreversible exfoliation reactions in the interaction with the sodium ion and self-destructs after a few life cycles.
Therefore, one of the most complex aspects is identifying a suitable negative electrode that can be used in place of graphite and capable of increasing the life cycle of sodium batteries.
Moreover, the standard reduction potential of sodium ions is lower than lithium, in other words, their tendency to gain electrons is lower. This means that compared to a lithium cell, the sodium battery will be able to supply a lower maximum voltage: the nominal voltage of the sodium cell is 2.3 – 2.5V vs. lithium’s 3.2 – 3.7V. Sodium and lithium both carry the same charge if we take into account that the electrochemical processes taking place in sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries are the same. However, ounce-for-ounce, a sodium battery will carry less charge than a lithium one, in other words, it will have a lower energy density.
Due to these two characteristics combined, a sodium battery can store 40% less energy than a lithium battery.
PROS AND CONS OF SODIUM BATTERIES
Sodium batteries are receiving renewed attention mostly because there is a need for concrete alternatives to lithium in applications where part of the production can be differentiated.
While lithium exists in nature within many rocks and in some brine, the amount in the earth’s crust is not inexhaustible. On top of that, extracting lithium requires energy.
The high demand for this raw material along with its limited availability in nature has driven its price through the roof, earning it the name “white gold”. Going forward, lithium batteries are bound to increase in demand and this has raised questions about the availability of the raw materials and the sustainability of an economy solely based on this chemistry.
Needless to say, achieving the highest performance for the specific application of the technology is a not-insignificant aspect in the search for alternative chemistries.
Can sodium batteries be a viable alternative to lithium? Let’s delve deeper into the pros and cons of sodium batteries.
Benefits of sodium batteries
Sodium batteries also ensure high standards of safety because cells based on this chemical element are neither flammable nor susceptible to explosions or short circuits. What is more, these batteries can withstand extreme high and low temperatures, having the possibility to operate in a range between ?20°C and 60°C, whereas the optimal operation temperature range for lithium cells is between 0 C and 50 C .
The raw materials are readily available in nature and can be extracted at low costs and with low energy use, making sodium a material with a low impact on the environment.?
Limitations of sodium batteries
Another great deterrent to the practical use of sodium batteries is their short life cycles. The fast degradation is due to the larger mass of sodium ions, which is 3 times greater than that of lithium ions. Sodium ions produce greater mechanical stress in the movement between anode and cathode, causing the destruction of the graphite—the anode material—after a few cycles.
PRIMARY APPLICATIONS: WHERE IS THE USE OF SODIUM BATTERIES BENEFICIAL?
Sodium batteries might prove to be an alternative to lithium batteries in applications where the economic factor is more important than performance.
More specifically, low costs and low energy density make sodium-ion batteries especially suitable for stationary applications and energy storage systems. These include photovoltaic and wind power systems with an intermittent production profile. In fact, Na-ion devices have a high level of safety that makes them suitable for applications such as these, requiring frequent hourly and daily charge and discharge cycles.
Sodium-ion technology is not very widespread in this field as of yet due to low cycle-life, still unable to meet the high number of charge and discharge cycles these applications require. If sodium cells were to become competitive in terms of life cycle duration with new research developments, they could definitely be a good technology for stationary applications.
“Sodium batteries currently have limited performance due to low energy density, but they represent a real alternative to lithium for lower-performance applications. This is crucial if we are to meet the demand of this ever-growing market. We need to keep looking to the future and ensure the sustainability of the supply chain by using lithium in applications where it is indispensable while continuing to search for technologies that allow differentiating a part of the production and ending the heavy reliance on lithium to cover the entire demand.”
Intro to Sodium-ion Batteries
A sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses sodium ions as charge carriers. Na-ion batteries are similar in design and construction to Li-ion batteries, but they use sodium compounds in place of lithium.
Sodium-ion batteries contain sodium-based electrodes and (typically) liquid electrolytes with dissociated sodium salts in solvents. When these batteries are charging, sodium ions travel from the cathode into the anode, and the electrons travel through the external circuit. Discharging reverses the process, with sodium ions traveling from the anode and reintegrating in the cathode, while the electrons travel through the external circuit. The typical cell voltage of a sodium-ion battery is 2.3–2.5V.
The operating principle of sodium-ion batteries. (Source: CIC Energigune.)
Sodium-ion Battery Cathodes
Generally, there are three variations of sodium-ion battery cathodes: polyanion, Prussian blue analogs (PBAs), and layered oxides. Polyanion and PBA cathodes have low atomic packing density, which results in low volumetric energy density. This allows them to be used in tools and starter applications. In contrast, layered oxide cathodes have both higher volumetric and gravimetric energy densities, which is better suited for grid energy storage systems (ESSs).
Rare elements such as nickel and cobalt can be used to increase the energy density of Na-ion cathodes. These elements enable higher reversible capacity and nominal voltage. However, these elements have a high cost and pose safety and environmental concerns in manufacturing and battery end of life.
Layered oxide cathodes are the most studied type of Na-ion battery cathode. Today, lithium, nickel and cobalt are typically used in these cathodes. However, replacing these rare materials with sodium, iron and magnesium could potentially maintain their high performance while lowering costs. According to a 2020 essay in dvanced Energy Materials by Hayley S. Hiresh et al, the material cost of a particular rock salt (Na 2/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 2/3 O 2 ) is less than one-fifth that of cathodes containing lithium and nickel. The cathode is the most expensive part of a Na-ion battery, according to the essay, accounting for 44 percent of the total battery cost.
Cost estimate of Na-ion batteries with different cathode materials. (Source: Hirsh et al.)
Sodium-ion Battery Anodes
The graphite-based anodes common to Li-ion batteries cannot be used in Na-ion batteries, though several alternatives have been analyzed. Hard carbon (carbon that cannot be converted to graphite) has a chemical potential that is similar to sodium metal and a high sodium capacity. It can be produced from different biomass materials and as such is considered environmentally friendly.
However, hard carbon consumes a significant amount of sodium and forms a solid electrolyte interface, which decreases the coulombic efficiency and reversible capacity of Na-ion batteries. This can be partially mitigated by using sacrificial salts.
Currently, the most efficient solution is using anodes created from hard carbon and metallic sodium or metallic sodium alloys. High-capacity metallic anodes have high storage capacity, mass density and chemical potential, but they are not stable.
Challenges of Sodium-ion Batteries
Although sodium-ion batteries show high potential, even when used in grid-scale applications, they have several challenges that must be solved before they can be suitable for commercial use. Na-ion batteries are sensitive to air and impurities that could form on the surface of cathodes containing iron and magnesium. This presents the risk of water penetration that can weaken battery performance. Solving this problem with a so-called dry environment manufacturing process would increase the cost and final price of these batteries.
To ensure a long service life of Na-ion batteries, it is important to have a stable interface between the electrodes and electrolytes. Interfacial degradation increases cell impedance, which decreases coulombic efficiency and shortens battery life. The electrolyte should be thermodynamically stable against electrodes, which should be coated to enable high stability.
Another challenge for Na-ion batteries is that the electrolyte should be suitably robust for grid-scale applications. The batteries should be resistant to operation in a wide range of temperatures to decrease the cost of thermal management systems. Those applications require a long life cycle, which implies minimal electrolyte leakage and gas generation.
A bigger battery system means bigger safety risks, and the fire and explosion risk of grid-scale Na-ion battery systems must be minimized. Sodium-ion batteries are much more thermally stable than Li-ion batteries and can operate in a wide range of temperatures. Yet using conventional flammable organic liquid electrolytes creates the risk of electrolyte leakage and gas generation. Improvements have already been made in ionic liquids, as well as in solid-state electrolytes. Replacing liquid electrolytes with nonflammable solid-state electrolytes could be an enabler of commercial Na-ion batteries.
Environmental Impact of Na-ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries contain toxic materials that are limited in availability, necessitating a concerted effort for battery recycling.
Na-ion batteries are built from widely?available, low-cost and environmentally friendly materials. Additionally, since Na-ion technology is in its early stages, it presents the opportunity to prepare recycling-friendly manufacturing processes from the very beginning, potentially increasing recycling efficiency and decreasing energy demand.
?What is the outlook for sodium-ion technology?
According to forecasts, the sodium-ion battery market is expected to grow at a rate of 27% per year over the next decade. Annual production will presumably go from 10 GWh in 2025 to approximately 70 GWh in 2033, an increase of nearly 600%.
Sodium-ion technology could become even more widespread thanks to the fact that largely the same technologies are used for sodium-cell and lithium-cell production, providing the possibility to convert the production lines and making it even more cost-effective.
Although sodium-ion batteries still exhibit some problems to solve, interest in these accumulators is growing in the world of electrification, so much so that major international players in the field of battery manufacturing are turning their attention to this technology.
Sodium batteries have particularly sparked the curiosity of the automotive sector.
CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and of energy storage systems, brought sodium-ion chemistry under the spotlight in 2021, presenting it as one of the emerging technologies on which it would be investing to differentiate its production.
The Chinese giant is doing this on the insight that replacing a slice of the market now held by lithium-ion batteries with sodium-ion batteries would substantially bring down the price of lithium batteries.
CATL has come up with an innovative idea to overcome the drawbacks of sodium batteries: that of developing a hybrid battery pack. This involves mixing and matching sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries in a certain proportion, integrating them into one battery system and using a smart BMS to control the different battery systems. Depending on needs, the vehicle could exploit the low-temperature performance of the sodium-ion battery or the high energy density. The project is still at the experimental stage, but the eyes of the entire industry are already on the Chinese company.
A battery consists of an anode and a cathode. A sodium-ion or Na-ion battery works on the principle of a reversible reaction between the electrodes of a battery.?
Like a lithium-ion or Li-ion battery, sodium ions travel between the two electrodes (anode and cathode) to generate electricity. Therefore, standard anode material and cathode material components are recommended for achieving optimum results.?
How does this electrochemical process work? The working principle is based on the “rocking chair mechanism” involving the charging and discharging processes with oxidation and reduction occurring at the electrodes.?
In a sodium-ion battery, the sodium-ion source is the positive electrode (cathode) and the sodium-free source is the negative electrode (anode). The charging process transfers the sodium ions through the electrolyte to the negative electrode.?
The formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) prevent continuous electrolyte degradation and preserve cell functionality.?
Ongoing charging releases more sodium ions via adsorption and intercalation mechanisms until the point of reaching a predetermined end-of-charge voltage. The discharging process reverses the movement of the sodium ions from the negative to the positive electrode. There is a consistent decrease of cell voltage until the point of reaching a defined cut-off voltage.?
Each cycle includes the shuttling of sodium ions from the positive to the negative electrode (charge) and in reverse (discharge).?
The working principle of a sodium-ion battery:?
4. Sodium-Ion Batteries vs. Lithium-Ion Batteries?
Sodium ion batteries vs. lithium ion batteries
Sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries are both types of rechargeable batteries, but they have some key differences in their chemistry and performance. Here are some of the main differences between sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries:
a. Materials: Sodium-ion batteries use sodium ions as the charge carriers, while lithium-ion batteries use lithium ions. Sodium is more abundant and less expensive than lithium, which could potentially make sodium-ion batteries more cost-effective.
b. Energy density: Lithium-ion batteries typically have a higher energy density than sodium-ion batteries, which means they can store more energy in a given volume or weight. This makes lithium-ion batteries better suited for portable devices where size and weight are important.
c. Performance: Lithium-ion batteries have been extensively researched and developed, and they generally have better performance and stability than sodium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries are still in the early stages of development, and their performance and stability are not yet well understood.
d. Safety: Sodium-ion batteries have a lower risk of thermal runaway compared to some lithium-ion batteries, which can make them safer to use.
e. Environmental impact: Sodium-ion batteries have a lower environmental impact than some lithium-ion batteries because sodium is more abundant and less toxic than lithium.
f. Cycle life. The current cycle life of sodium-ion batteries is much lower than that of lithium-ion batteries, which will certainly increase the number of maintenance and replacement of sodium-ion batteries in use. Sodium batteries are generally between 1000-3000 times. In contrast, the cycle life of lithium iron phosphate batteries is between 3000-10000 times.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have dominated the battery landscape for a long while. Lithium-ion batteries are likely to dominate the global market share in both portable and stationary battery energy storage applications in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, other battery technologies are progressively gaining ground.?
Why is the focus shifting away from lithium-ion batteries to sodium-ion batteries? As supply tightens for lithium and lithium-based components, limited availability and high mining costs make it difficult to manufacture and sell lithium-ion batteries.?
Let us see some major differences to find answers.
What Are The Differences Between Sodium-ion and Lithium-ion Batteries?
The variations between sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries are both fascinating and varied. A comparison might make you pause and consider your choice for energy storage. While lithium-ion batteries solar compatability have long been favoured by many, it's important not to overlook their competitors.?
Aspect Sodium-ion Batteries Lithium-ion Batteries
Material Cost Generally cheaper due to More expensive; abundant Sodium lithium is rarer
Energy Density Lower Higher
Solar Compatibility Developing but promising Well-established
Life Cycle Potentially more sustainable Less eco-friendly in production
Charge/Discharge Rates Slower Faster
Safety Less prone to thermal runaway Can be hazardous under certain Conditions
Weight Heavier Lighter
Common Applications Renewable energy storage, Solar compatibility
grid balancing EVs, high-end electronics, Operating Temperature More tolerant to high More sensitive to temperature temperature extremes
Self-discharge Rate Higher Lower
SODIUM-ION BATTERY ADVANTAGES:
Abundantly Available?
The alkali metal is the sixth most bountiful material on Earth. The abundant availability is the reason behind the ever-growing R&D on the development and deployment of sodium-ion batteries. Abundant and inexpensive. Sodium is more abundant and cheaper than lithium, which has the potential to make sodium ion batteries more cost effective.
Fire Safe?
Lithium-ion cells have an overheating or thermal runaway risk—leading to battery failure, explosion, or cell fire. The relative stability of sodium-ion batteries is a positive differentiator. Low risk. Compared to some other battery chemistries, sodium ion batteries have a lower risk of thermal runaway, which can make them safer to use.
Environmental impact. Sodium ion batteries have a lower environmental impact than some other chemical batteries because sodium is more abundant and less toxic than some other metals.
Very fast charging speed, it is said that at room temperature just 15 minutes of charging, the power can reach 80%.
The working temperature span of sodium batteries is also very large, and they can have a discharge retention rate of over 90% in a low temperature environment of -20℃.
Low-cost Alternative?
Lithium-ion battery materials are very expensive. In comparison, sodium-ion battery components are less expensive. A sodium-ion battery is believed to be safer and 30% cheaper than its lithium-ion counterpart. Limited lithium reserves are paving the way for versatile and economically viable sodium for a variety of battery applications. Shall we take a look at the many advantages of sodium-ion batteries??
Highly Adaptable?
Sodium-ion batteries can be used for a broad range of battery applications, including renewable energy storage for homes and businesses, grid storage, and backup power for data and telecom companies.?
Energy Efficient?
Sodium-ion batteries are highly energy efficient and can charge fast without compromising performance quality.?
Less Toxic?
Lithium-ion battery fires can release toxic gases into the environment. In contrast, sodium-ion batteries are safe and eco-friendly.?
Stable?
Sodium ionizes easily and sodium-ion batteries are relatively stable at wider temperatures with demonstrable system integration efficiency.?
Sodium-Ion Battery Disadvantages?
Low Energy Density
The biggest defect of sodium batteries is the low energy density, some data show that the energy density of sodium ion battery monomer is 100-150wh/kg, less than the lower limit of 180wh/kg in the Chinese industry requirements standards, which means that the same range of two batteries, sodium batteries are larger and heavier than lithium batteries.
Tesla Model 3 currently uses a ternary lithium battery energy density of 260Wh/kg, Tesla’s third generation 4680 battery energy density can reach 330Wh/kg. sodium ion battery energy density is even less than half of it, energy density, determine the same weight, the same volume, whose battery pack can last longer. How to improve the energy density of sodium ion batteries, which is a major problem in front of many companies. If the energy density problem can not have a breakthrough progress, at least in the future for a long time is not possible to completely replace the lithium battery.
Large Size?
Larger size and weight. Because sodium ions are larger than lithium ions, this means that the materials used in the batteries must be able to accommodate larger sizes of sodium ions, and sodium ion batteries may require larger electrodes and electrolytes, which may make them larger and heavier than lithium ion batteries.
There are three types of cathode materials available for sodium ion batteries, layer oxide, polyanion and Prussian blue type materials. For example, Ningde Time’s first generation sodium battery uses Prussian blue-like materials, which are low-cost, simple to synthesize, highly designable, and have high theoretical gram capacity and multiplier performance, but have the disadvantages of difficult water removal, low cycle life, poor actual multiplier performance, low bulk energy density, large voltage polarization, and risk of thermal runaway.
The most fatal problem is the production and processing process, if not handled properly extremely easy to form crystalline water, and this problem is currently difficult to solve. It is said that Ningde Times has suspended the development of sodium ion batteries with Prussian blue-like materials, and is now trying to reach mass production with layered oxide and polyanionic materials. The layer oxide crystal structure is similar to the ternary cathode material, the advantages of which are high energy density, excellent cycling performance, good multiplier performance, the disadvantages are poor stability in the air, the slurry is easy to jelly, gram capacity play unstable. Polyanionic materials, on the other hand, are recognized for their high cycle life, high theoretical operating voltage, and good thermal stability, with the disadvantages of low energy density and high raw material cost.
c. Performance and Stability. Sodium ion batteries are still in the early stages of development, and their performance and stability may not be as well understood as other battery chemistries, such as lithium ion batteries. The true cost of the follow-on and what the real-world experience will be are also unknown. What’s more, although lithium carbonate is currently very expensive, its market is fluctuating, and once we see a breakthrough in sodium ion batteries, it is bound to be a significant price reduction and sodium batteries will lose any advantage.
In general, sodium ion batteries are a direction of research and development, but further research and development is needed to improve their performance and address their limitations. Ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries are sure to remain the absolute mainstream batteries for a long time.
While lithium-ion batteries have been around for quite some time, sodium-ion batteries are relatively new to the commercial landscape. The absence of a robust industrial supply chain and the current market situation are not suitable for the active application of sodium-ion batteries.?
As sodium-ion technology is still in an ongoing R&D phase to improve its structural stability and resilience for commercial applications, it is crucial to know the biggest disadvantages of sodium-ion batteries:?
7. Applications of Sodium-Ion Batteries?
Studies have shown that replacing the standard internal components of a lithium-ion battery with corresponding sodium components yields meaningful outcomes. Extensive research supports the use of sodium-ion batteries to meet the growing demands for clean and green energy.?
Some of the well-known applications of sodium-ion batteries include:?
7.1. Automobiles and Transportation?
The carbon emission reduction goal has a significant impact on transportation electrification. Therefore, cost-effective battery chemistry is a necessity in electric vehicle (EV) innovation. As EV sales are expected to grow in the coming years, sodium-ion technology is the undeniable choice for electric vehicles, including electric bikes and electric cars.?
7.2. Grid-level Applications?
Smart grids rely on reliable power. The intermittent power supply can impede grid functioning. Sodium-ion batteries can help optimize solar energy and wind energy to effectively meet unique grid energy storage requirements.?
7.3. Industrial Mobility?
Sodium-ion batteries can maximize asset utilization and minimize operating costs with a constant state of readiness and powerful peak power.?
7.4. Power Backup?
Data and telecom sectors rely heavily on battery-powered infrastructure and operations to drive the global economy. Sodium-ion batteries can provide on-demand power to ensure a safe and seamless power supply.?
8. Who Makes Sodium-Ion Batteries??
Various companies across the world manufacture sodium-ion batteries. Leading battery manufacturers have specialized teams to develop sodium-ion technology applications.?
The three major sodium-ion battery companies are:?
8.1. Faradion?
Faradion is the world’s first sodium-ion battery company to commercialize the Na-ion technology. The UK-based company specializes in non-aqueous sodium-ion cell technology and holds impressive patents related to sodium-ion batteries with a comprehensive and wide-reaching IP portfolio.?
From backup power and low-cost electric transport to residential and industrial storage, Faradion provides efficient and cost-effective real-world Na-ion battery solutions known for cheap and clean energy.
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8.2. Natron
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Natron (Natron Energy) provides stand-alone or integrated battery solutions to improve the total cost of ownership (TCO). The company has been pushing the boundaries of traditional battery technology with innovative battery solutions that offer impressive benefits, such as higher peak capacity, safety, and long cycle rate.?
Natron’s Prussian Blue sodium-ion technology is built for better performance with better battery chemistry.?
This is Natron’s BlueTray? 4000—the first-ever UL-listed sodium-ion battery:?
8.4. CATL?
China-based CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.) Research Institute launched its first sodium-ion battery in July 2021. The battery giant is planning to begin commercial production in 2023.?
Apart from the sodium-ion battery, CATL launched its AB battery pack solution—a beautiful integration of sodium-ion cells and lithium-ion cells in a single pack. CATL also developed a hard carbon material with a unique porous structure to boost cycle performance.?
This is CATL’s first-generation sodium-ion battery:
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Battery Boom in Recent Years?
Battery innovation has come a long way since the early 21st century. Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA), and nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) are the three primary battery technologies.?
The diminishing lithium resources encouraged the search for less expensive and more viable alternatives. It is not surprising that automakers, businesses, governments, utility companies, and other organizations started moving toward sodium-powered energy storage devices and systems.?
The Indian acquisition of Faradion a UK-based sodium-ion battery manufacturer, throws the spotlight on the desirability of and demand for sodium-ion batteries. While countries are looking for renewable energy choices, they are stepping up efforts to commercialize the technology through integrated manufacturing facilities.?
As the impending lithium shortage accelerates the search for cheaper and safer battery solutions, sodium-based batteries are among the breakthrough energy storage technologies that can fulfill the ever-increasing global energy storage requirements.??
10. Blackridge Research & Consulting – Market Research Reports
Do you want to know the sodium-ion battery market size and demand forecast? The Blackridge Research Global Sodium Ion Battery Market Report provides a meticulous analysis of the sodium-ion battery market and segmentation.?
In addition, you’ll find deep insights into the sodium ion battery market drivers and restraints, regional market analysis, market share of key players, and much more. Get in touch for free report customization and custom research services.
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11. The Future Roadmap for Sodium-Ion Batteries
11.1. Sodium-Ion Battery R&D?
The current R&D capabilities in the battery technology space are growing rapidly to accommodate the exponential demand for energy storage. Alleviating the pressure on lithium reserves in the world is the primary focus of researchers looking for viable non-lithium battery options.?
For example, the U.S. National Science Foundation partly funded research that helped develop a fast and stable sodium-ion battery that resists dendrite (filament) growth and reduces the risk of a fire or explosion. Researchers at UC San Diego collaborated with other researchers to design and manufacture a new solid electrolyte to boost solid-state sodium-ion batteries’ efficiency, lifespan, and stability.?
Decarbonization, the growing integration of renewables into electrical grids, and rising electric vehicle adoption are some factors encouraging the development of environment-friendly and socially conscious energy storage technologies.?
The worldwide R&D efforts are intensifying the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries
In particular, the electric vehicle market is likely to reap the R&D benefits of sodium-ion battery technology to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and drive more revenue opportunities.??
11.2. The Road Ahead for Sodium-Ion Batteries
What does the future hold for sodium-ion batteries? Among non-lithium alternatives, the desirability of sodium-ion batteries is driven primarily by abundance, low cost, and high performance. Advanced technological capabilities and battery innovation are crucial to the acceptance and adoption of sodium-ion batteries on a commercial scale.
?The diversified and complex development stage for sodium batteries will lead to innovation in the battery landscape. For example, hybrid batteries present promising possibilities to blend the best of sodium and lithium features for better battery performance.?
Will the benefits of sodium-ion batteries take battery innovation to the next level??
Research affirms the potential of low-cost and high-performance sodium-ion batteries to gain a strong foothold in the battery market. As the world increasingly looks for safe and sustainable energy storage, sodium-ion technology innovation is only going to get better in the future.
Sodium-ion batteries: the revolution in renewable energy storage
Efficient energy storage is a key pillar of the energy transition. In a context of accelerating decarbonisation, manufacturers are increasingly turning to sodium batteries, a cheaper alternative to the popular lithium batteries. This technology opens the door to the massification of affordable electric cars and the efficient storage of renewable energy. But how do they work and what are their advantages?
Sodium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable batteries that carry the charge using sodium ions (Na+).
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The development of new generation batteries is a determining factor in the future of energy storage, which is key to decarbonisation and the energy transition in the face of the challenges of climate change. Storing renewable energy makes renewable energy production more flexible and ensures its integration into the system.
Since their emergence in 1991, lithium batteries have dominated the energy storage sector. However, this leadership has led to a significant increase in demand for the mineral, a demand that does not seem to be diminishing. As a result, the potential for lithium supply shortages, with consequent price rises and delays due to lack of supply, has come to the fore.
In recent years, battery manufacturers and the automotive industry have been exploring alternative raw materials to lithium for the manufacture of energy storage systems. And one of the most viable options is the sodium-ion battery: the relative abundance of this mineral and its low cost position it as the next revolution in renewable energy storage.
?What are sodium-ion batteries and how do they work?
Sodium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that work in a similar way to lithium batteries, but carry the charge using sodium ions (Na+) instead of lithium ions (Li+). Sodium is a silvery, soft alkaline metal that is very abundant in nature - it can be found, for example, in sea salt or in the earth's crust. The operation of sodium-ion batteries is very similar to that of lithium-ion batteries, as the chemistry of the two elements is similar (both are alkaline).
Sodium batteries were first studied in the 1980s, but it was not until the 21st century that the true potential of sodium for energy storage was rediscovered.
Over the last 20 years, more than 50 % of the patented research activity in the field of sodium-ion batteries has taken place in China (53 %), followed by Japan (16 %) and the US (13 %). Europe, too, is starting to make progress in this field. The companies that are currently playing the most important role in this technology are the Chinese companies CATL or HiNa.
The future is bright in this respect. According to BloombergNEF, by 2030, sodium-ion batteries could account for 23% of the stationary storage market, which would translate into more than 50 GWh. But that forecast could be exceeded if technology improvements accelerate and manufacturing advances are made using similar or the same equipment as for lithium batteries.
Sodium-ion battery technology
Sodium-ion batteries are composed of the following elements: a negative electrode or anode from which electrons are released and a positive electrode or cathode that receives them. When the battery is discharged, sodium ions move from the anode to the cathode through an electrolyte - a substance composed of free ions that functions as an electrical conductor - resulting in the potential difference that produces the current. When the battery is charged, the sodium ions return to the anode until a predetermined end-of-charge voltage is reached.
Sodium-ion batteries offer a versatile and economically viable option by relying on an alkaline metal so abundant on Earth and with relatively low production costs. They provide energy efficient power with fast charging, stability against temperature extremes and safety against overheating or thermal runaway. They are less toxic than other popular batteries, as they do not require lithium, cobalt, copper or nickel that can release polluting gases in the event of a fire. And they are adaptable to different uses.
Despite their performance, sodium batteries are relatively new on the commercial scene. The mass application of this type of energy storage is still weak due to the lack of an established industrial supply chain. In addition, one of the main disadvantages of sodium-ion batteries is that they have a low energy density compared to other popular batteries such as lithium batteries, so they can store less energy per unit weight. They are also less efficient and have a shorter lifespan.
What do sodium-ion batteries contain?
Enter sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, seen as a cheaper and even more sustainable alternative to LFP.
EV battery material makeup Sodium-ion (Na-ion) Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Cathode (positive terminal) Sodium Lithium
Electrolyte (separator) Sodium Lithium
Anode (negative terminal) Hard carbon Graphite
Current collector Aluminium Aluminium for cathode and copper for anode
Sodium-ion cells share a similar construction and alkali metal properties with Li-ion, albeit being slightly heavier and bigger.
The anode’s hard carbon material allows a broader range of available electrolytes, resulting in a wider operating temperature range and ultimately makes it safer to use (more on that below).
Here’s a breakdown of some of the key differences between sodium-ion and lithium-ion battery technology:
Sodium-ionLithium-ionCost/kWh of capacityUS$40 – 77US$137 averageVolumetric energy density250 – 375 W h/L200 – 683 W h/LSafetyLow risk for aqueousHigh riskMaterialsAbundant and cheapScarceCycling stabilityHighHighTemperature range?20 °C to 60 °C?20 °C to 60 °C (but 15 °C to 35 °C optimal)
Manufacture of sodium-ion batteries
Sodium batteries are currently more expensive to manufacture than lithium batteries due to low volumes and the lack of a developed supply chain, but have the potential to be much cheaper in the future. To achieve this, GWh production capacities must be reached.
In terms of manufacturing, most of today's sodium-ion technologies use the same processes as lithium batteries, which is a very significant advantage over other storage technologies under development. Sodium technology therefore benefits from all the economies of scale and knowledge from lithium (retrofitting an existing lithium plant to sodium-ion technology could require only 10 % additional capital expenditure).
Sodium-ion battery applications
Research suggests that sodium-ion batteries will be able to meet the growing demands for energy storage in a sustainable way. Some of the known applications of sodium batteries are: ? ?
Renewable energy storage
In a world in transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, improved electricity storage is of vital importance. Sodium-ion batteries make it possible to store renewable energy for homes and businesses, ensuring a balanced supply of every green megawatt generated. One of the main applications in the energy industry is self-consumption . ?Storage in the grid
Smart grids depend on stable power, as intermittent power can cause grid failures. Sodium-ion batteries can offer greater stability to the power supply.
?Energy support for data and telecoms companies
The data and telecommunications sectors have infrastructures and processes that rely heavily on energy storage. Sodium batteries can provide power on demand to ensure a stable and secure energy supply. ? ?Automobiles and Transport
Reducing carbon emissions from transport is a key pillar of the energy transition. Sodium ion technology is an increasingly real alternative for electric mobility. ? ?Industrial mobility
Sodium-ion batteries can maximise asset utilisation in industry and minimise operating costs.
The future of sodium ion technology
The lithium battery research activity driven in recent years has benefited the development of sodium-ion batteries. By maintaining a number of similarities with lithium-ion batteries, this type of energy storage has seen particularly rapid progress and promises to be a key advantage in their deployment.
But, in addition, the growing demand for large-scale electrical energy storage and recent discoveries - for example, the use of hard carbon as an anode material - are leading to the increasing development of sodium-ion batteries.
Its major challenges open up three main lines of technological improvement:
Once achieved, the next goal will be to commercialise this technology at low cost and on a large scale. This is just the beginning of a journey that lays the foundation for a major revolution in renewable energy storage.
Top 10 sodium ion battery manufacturers in China
At present, there are many companies in China deploying sodium-ion batteries, but they can be divided into two categories. One is start-up companies, and the other is established suppliers who have been engaged in the production of lithium-ion batteries and upstream raw materials for a long time. The specific leading companies are the following top 10 sodium ion battery manufacturers in China(Ranking in no particular order).
1.CATL
Company profile: CATL ranks first in top 10 sodium ion battery manufacturers in China, also as leading company in top 10 lithium ion battery manufacturers was established on December 16, 2011. The Na-ion battery cell released by it reaches 160Wh/kg, and it can be charged for 15 minutes at room temperature, and the power can reach more than 80%. In a low temperature environment of -20% ℃, it also has a discharge retention rate of more than 90%, and the system integration efficiency can reach more than 80%.
The company is working to promote the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries in 2023. In addition, the company plans to officially release Qilin batteries in the second quarter of this year.
Total market value: 1329.643 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.catl.com/
2.Great Power
Company profile:
Great Power was established in 2001 with a registered capital of 420 million RMB. It is a high-tech enterprise focusing on the production, manufacture and research and development of lithium-ion batteries for more than 20 years.
The company’s business scope covers digital consumer batteries, new energy vehicle power batteries, energy storage batteries and light power batteries, power tool batteries and other fields. It has fully realized the perfect coverage of the new energy industry chain, took the lead in realizing large-scale production, has independent intellectual property rights, and the main technical indicators are at the international advanced level.
The company has made samples of sodium ion batteries (using phosphate sodium cathode and hard carbon system anode), and has entered the pilot stage of sodium ion batteries, and is expected to be mass-produced before the end of the year.
Total market value: 40.619 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.greatpower.net
3.Dynanonic
Company profile: Founded in 2001, Dynanonic is a high-tech listed company in the field of new energy and energy-saving technologies that develops, produces and sells various batteries and battery applications.
The total number of lead-acid battery models exceeds 700; it covers automobiles, construction machinery, ships, motorcycles, communications, electrical, lighting, electric vehicles, solar energy storage and other fields. Dynanonic’s featured products are lead-acid starter batteries for motorcycles and scooters.
Last year, the delivery of small batches of 18650 cylindrical sodium-ion batteries was completed, and the company will soon cooperate in mass production.
Registered capital：567.4 million RMB
Company website: https://www.dynavolt.net.cn/
4.Greatwall
Company profile: China Great Wall is a “safe, advanced and green autonomous computing hardware industry professional sub-group” under China Electronics. In 2017, China Great Wall was established by China Great Wall Computer Shenzhen Co., Ltd., Great Wall Information Industry Co., Ltd., Wuhan Zhongyuan Electronics Group Co., Ltd.Beijing Shengfeifei Electronic System Technology Development Co., Ltd. is composed of four key enterprises. It is a large-scale state-owned enterprise and a leading enterprise in China’s Internet and information industry technology innovation.
Subsidiary companies started the layout of the sodium-ion battery industry in 2016. At present, they have made breakthroughs in key technologies such as the synthesis and processing technology of cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries, and the manufacturing process technology of sodium-ion batteries, and have obtained 4 invention patents.
Total market value: 32.581 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.greatwall.com.cn/
5.Sacred Sun
Company profile:
The company was founded in 1991 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2011. The current controlling shareholder is Shandong Guohui Investment Co., Ltd. The market position is in the forefront of the Chinese industry, and it is one of the well-known enterprises in the same industry in the world.
The company is a state-level high-tech enterprise with a nationally recognized enterprise technology center, leading and participating in the formulation of more than 50 national and industry standards.
The company faces the global market and provides customers with battery products, energy storage systems and integrated smart power solutions. It is an internationally renowned and Chinese leading green smart energy integrated service provider.
Total market value: 5.338 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.sacredsun.cn/
6.Sunwoda
Company profile: Founded in 1997, Sunwoda in one of top 10 energy storage battery companies in China is mainly engaged in the research and development, design, production and sales of lithium battery cells and modules.
After more than 20 years, the company has developed into a global leader in the field of lithium-ion batteries, and has formed six major industrial groups of 3C consumer batteries, intelligent hardware, electric vehicle batteries, energy technology, intelligent manufacturing and industrial Internet, and third-party testing services.
Sunwoda owns a number of patents on sodium ion battery replenishment, sodium ion battery and its preparation, and cooperates with Nankai University to set up an academician workstation.
Total market value: 56.801 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.sunwoda.com/
7.CFH
Company profile: Shenzhen CFH New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. is a listed company on the GEM of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company was established in June 2009 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. It is a high-tech enterprise integrating R&D, production and sales of high-end graphite, silicon-carbon anode materials and graphene and other new carbon materials for lithium-ion batteries.
The products cover traditional graphite anode materials such as natural graphite and artificial graphite, next-generation silicon carbon and titanium non-graphite anode materials, and new energy materials such as graphene and carbon fiber. Products are widely used in new energy vehicles, energy storage power stations, consumer electronics, power tools, electric bicycles and many other fields.
Customers mainly include one of top 10 solid state battery companies BYD, LG New Energy, Guoxuan Hi-Tech, Samsung SDI, CATL and many other world-renowned lithium battery companies. For sodium-ion batteries, the company has developed high-performance hard carbon anode materials, which are currently being tested by relevant customers.
Total market value: 6.922 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.xiangfenghua.com/
8.Ronbay
Company profile: Ronbay Technology is a multinational group company in the high-tech new energy material industry, specializing in the research and development, production and sales of lithium battery cathode materials.
Jointly created by two teams from China and South Korea with more than 20 years of successful entrepreneurial experience in the lithium battery cathode material industry, the company landed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Science and Technology Innovation Board on July 22, 2019, and is developing a low-cost and excellent electrochemical performance of sodium ion battery systems and cathode materials.
Total market value: 50.886 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.ronbaymat.com/
9.Dingsheng
Company profile: Dingsheng is located in Jingkou Economic Development Zone, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. It was incorporated in August 2003 and covers an area of 700,000 square meters. It was listed on A-shares in April 2018. At present, it has more than 2,600 employees. It is a private enterprise that produces and sells aluminum processing industry based on new material technology.
In 2020, the sales of battery foil will be 24,049 tons, and the investment capacity of aluminum foil for power battery electrodes will be 50,000 tons. The 2020 annual report shows that the construction progress of the project has been completed by 71.17%.
Total market value: 30.856 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.dingshengxincai.com/
10.Nanshan Aluminium
Company profile: Nanshan Aluminium was successfully listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on December 23, 1999. It has created the only complete aluminum processing industry chain with the shortest distance in the same region in the world with thermoelectricity, alumina, electrolytic aluminum, melting and casting, aluminum profiles/hot rolling-cold rolling-foil rolling/forging, and scrap aluminum recycling (recycling).
Terminal products are widely used in aviation, automobiles, rail transit, ships, energy, petrochemicals, containers, industrial profiles, fine civil profiles, high-end system doors and windows, containers and cans, food packaging, battery foil, aluminum deep processing and other fields.
Total market value: 44.575 billion RMB
Company website: https://www.600219.com.cn/
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12. Conclusion
The rechargeable battery market is driven by innovation. Battery tech is no longer limited to lithium-ion batteries. Battery producers and battery scientists have been working on lithium-ion battery alternatives in the wake of the high costs and imminent lithium shortage. Moreover, the increasing use of disruptive battery technologies is in line with the goal of carbon neutrality.?
The dominant lithium-ion battery has a potential successor in the deserving sodium-ion battery. Over the years, successful commercialization led to the heavy deployment of Li-ion cells in portable electronics, EVs, energy storage systems, etc.?
However, we’re seeing a niche market for sodium-ion battery components—and a surge in sodium-driven innovation from sodium-ion-powered generators to customized sodium-ion batteries for data centers.?
The sodium-ion battery market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years with more investments and targeted R&D efforts to ease the transition from pilot plant-scale production to full commercialization.?
Compared to lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries are economically viable, energy efficient, safe, and sustainable. It is time to power up with sodium-ion batteries. Is the sodium-ion battery a game changer? The answer is a resounding yes.
New Sodium-Ion Battery Could Charge An Electric Vehicle In Seconds, Not Minutes
The electric vehicle revolution has barely gotten under way, and already the goalposts for charging times are moving. New research indicates that sodium-ion EV batteries could charge up in seconds, not minutes. That not only races past the best lithium-ion technology on the market today, it also beats gas and diesel fuels at their own game.
Sodium For The Sustainable Electric Vehicle Battery Of The Future
Lithium-ion batteries have been the energy storage technology of choice for electric vehicle stakeholders ever since the early 2000s, but a shift is coming. Sodium-ion battery technology is one new technology to emerge.
In terms of an electric vehicle battery, sodium beats lithium on availability and cost. Performance has been the challenge, with one hurdle being weight. Sodium and lithium are atomic neighbors, but the atomic weight of sodium is 3.3 times that of lithium.
The Swedish battery firm Northvolt has recently hooked up with the leading Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, indicating that it has solved the problem in terms of mobile applications.
Unless we missed something, automakers here in the US haven’t quite gotten there yet. Instead, stationary energy storage is the initial target. The California firm Natron Energy just fired up its first US factory last week with a focus on energy storage systems to balance loads and handle power interruptions at data centers. Ohio-based Acculon Energy is another US energy storage firm spotting an opportunity in the sodium-ion field.
The Role Of The Supercapacitor
Unlike the market for internal combustion engines, the market for electric vehicle batteries could support any number of variations on battery chemistry to accommodate different combinations of cost, range, and charging times alongside other factors including driver habits, schedules, and access to charging stations.
Nevertheless, the idea of being able to pull up, plug in, and take off again in less than a minute is a tantalizing one.
The main feature behind the new sodium-ion battery research is a supercapacitor. Also called ultracapacitors, supercapacitors are energy storage devices that can charge up in seconds. They can also release their charge quickly.
In terms of modern applications, the first supercapacitors began appearing back in the 1950s and they are in widespread use today. “Supercapacitors do not require a solid dielectric layer between the two electrodes, instead they store energy by accumulating electric charge on porous electrodes filled with an electrolyte solution and separated by an insulating porous membrane,” the US Department of Energy explains.
For electric vehicles specifically, the list of benefits includes a long lifecycle and the ability to function efficiently over a wide range of temperatures. If you caught that thing about discharging quickly, though, that’s a problem. Deployment in electric vehicles is currently limited to secondary tasks where a quick burst of power is useful, such as acceleration and regenerative braking. In those use cases, supercapacitors avoid wear and tear on the main battery.
The Ultra-Super-Fast Charging Sodium-Ion Electric Vehicle Battery Of The Future
For main battery applications, supercapacitors are in need of a soup-to-nuts makeover. “The major drawbacks of supercapacitors are low energy density and a high self-discharge rate,” the Energy Department further explains, referring to the tendency of chemistry-based batteries to lose their charge when not in use for a period of time.
The complications add up when the battery chemistry involves a sodium-ion formula. Nevertheless, a research team at KAIST (the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) has come up with a new energy storage solution that combines the power of a supercapacitor with the cost and supply chain advantages of sodium-ion battery chemistry.
The researchers already anticipate that their new battery will find a use in the electric vehicle field. That may be a long ways off, but the project is off to a promising start. The team’s study was published in March by the journal Energy Storage Materials under the title, “Low-crystallinity conductive multivalence iron sulfide-embedded S-doped anode and high-surface-area O-doped cathode of 3D porous N-rich graphitic carbon frameworks for high-performance sodium-in hybrid energy storages.”
The shorter version is that the team developed a new battery that combines a new, sophisticated anode with a new cathode that accommodates supercapacitor technology. The two electrodes were carefully engineered to smooth over the disparity in their energy storage rates.
“This combination allows the device to achieve both high storage capacities and rapid charge-discharge rates, positioning it as a viable next-generation alternative to lithium-ion batteries,” KAIST explained in a press release dated April 18, in which they also note that sodium is more than 500 times more abundant than lithium.
“This device surpasses the energy density of commercial lithium-ion batteries and exhibits the characteristics of supercapacitors’ power density,” KAIST emphasized. “It is expected to be suitable for rapid charging applications ranging from electric vehicles to smart electronic devices and aerospace technologies.”
Another Road To The Ultra-Extra-Super-Fast Charging Electric Vehicle Of The Future
The KAIST team is not the only one to raise the bar on electric vehicle charging times by deploying supercacitor technology. Here in the US, a research team at TAMU (Texas A&M University) has been working on a new battery that incorporates nitride MXenes. Prounounced “Maxines,” MXenes crossed the CleanTechnica radar back in 2013, when we took note of their potential to bump EV battery technology up to the next level.
“Like graphene, MXenes possess unique properties that could open up a new era of small, lighter, faster, cheaper and more efficient electronic and energy storage devices, among other things,” we enthused.
Graphene and MXenes are 2D, atomic-level materials. Graphene is composed of a single layer of carbon atoms, while Mxenes consist of two layers of material made of metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides.
With an assist from MXenes, the TAMU team is reaching beyond the ambitions of a seconds-long charge for electric vehicle batteries, to achieve a seconds-long charge that can last for days.
“The team’s research underscores the potential of nitride MXenes to serve as a depenfable option for energy storage devices , with applications spanning from small electronics and large-scale grid storage to electric vehicles,” TAMU observed in a press release dated April 22.
CleanTechnica is reaching out to TAMU for the latest published paper on the research. We did find an article on the topic authored by lead researcher and TAMU chemical engineering professor Dr. Abdoulaye Djire in 2019, in which his team demonstrated that the 2D material Ti4N3Tx MXene (Ti for titanium, N3 for nitride, and Tx referring to group surfaces) behaves as both a metal and a semiconductor.
In addition to the potential for significant impact on electric vehicle charging times and other energy storage applicaitons, Dr. Djire’s extensive work on MXenes is also informing the decarbonization of ammonia (NH3) production, as described in an article published by the journal Nature in 2022.
Cathode innovation makes sodium-ion battery an attractive option for electric vehicles
New cathode design could pave the way for eco- and budget-friendly electric vehicles
New cathode material for sodium-ion batteries is inspired by earlier work at Argonne that led to the lithium-ion batteries in the Chevy Volt and Bolt. It could help the supply of low-cost and abundant elements for electric vehicle batteries.
As most shoppers looking for a new vehicle know, electric vehicles typically carry a relatively hefty price tag. A primary contributor to this expense are the lithium-ion batteries that power the vehicle. Significantly reducing that cost would bring us closer to transportation solutions that are eco- and wallet-friendly.?
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have invented and patented a new cathode material that replaces lithium ions with sodium and would be significantly cheaper. The cathode is one of the main parts of any battery. It is the site of the chemical reaction that creates the flow of electricity that propels a vehicle.?
“Our estimates suggest that a sodium-ion battery would cost one-third less than a lithium-ion one.” — Christopher Johnson, senior chemist and Argonne distinguished fellow.??
“Our battery program at Argonne has been studying sodium-ion batteries for well over a decade now,” said Christopher Johnson, senior chemist and Argonne distinguished fellow. “And our design for the cathode structure makes sodium-ion batteries an appealing alternative for budget-friendly and more sustainable electric vehicles.”??
The innovative breakthrough by Johnson’s research team, funded in part by the Vehicle Technologies Office of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, stems from his prior research with two other Argonne Distinguished Fellows — Michael Thackeray (retired) and Khalil Amine — on a new cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. That cathode is now part of the batteries that power the Chevy Volt and Bolt, as well as other electric vehicles.??
The earlier cathode material is a lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) oxide with a structure in which the atoms are arranged in layers. This structure allows easy insertion and extraction of lithium ions between the layers. These ions thus can move freely from the cathode to anode and back to charge and discharge the battery.?
Drawing insights from the earlier research, Johnson’s team invented a layered oxide cathode tailored for sodium-ion batteries. This variation on the NMC cathode is a sodium nickel-manganese-iron (NMF) oxide with a layered structure for efficient insertion and extraction of sodium. The absence of cobalt in the cathode formula mitigates cost, scarcity and toxicity concerns associated with that element.?
The team’s interest in sodium-ion batteries stems from their many advantages. Two are sustainability and cost. Sodium is far more naturally abundant and easily mined than lithium. It is thus a fraction of the cost per kilogram and much less susceptible to price fluctuations or disruptions in the supply chain. “Our estimates suggest that a sodium-ion battery would cost one-third less than a lithium-ion one,” Johnson said.?
Furthermore, besides sodium, the cathode material predominantly contains iron and manganese. Both elements are globally abundant and not on the endangered list.?
Another benefit is that sodium-ion batteries can retain their charging capability at below freezing temperatures. This addresses one of the notable drawbacks of existing lithium-ion batteries. Also working in favor of sodium-ion batteries is that the technology for battery management and manufacturing already exists. This is because their design closely resembles that of lithium-ion batteries.?
?“There is one catch to this wonder battery,” noted Johnson. “Sodium metal is about three times heavier than lithium, and that adds considerably to the battery weight.” And the additional weight translates into a shorter driving range.?
To date, this shortcoming has hindered sodium-ion batteries from making inroads into the electric vehicle market. Compared with other sodium-ion technology, however, the team’s cathode has much higher energy density, enough to power electric vehicles for a driving range of about 180-200 miles on a single charge.??
Johnson emphasized that while the sodium-ion battery might not appeal to those seeking long driving ranges, it could attract budget-conscious consumers, particularly urban dwellers whose daily driving rarely exceeds this distance.?
Another shortcoming of earlier sodium-ion batteries is a short cycle life. But with the team’s cathode material, battery cells can be charged and discharged the same number of cycles as their lithium-ion counterparts.?
“We have now transitioned from the laboratory phase and are poised to subject our cathode to testing within battery cells similar to those in an actual electric vehicle battery,” Johnson said. This testing will be done in Argonne’s Cell Analysis, Modeling and Prototyping Facility.?
“From there, we hope the NMF cathode will follow the trajectory of our NMC cathode and be chosen for manufacturing,” Johnson said. His team is also working to develop different materials for the two other main components of a battery — the electrolyte and anode — to boost energy density even further.?
Sodium-ion batteries have another possible application besides transportation. In particular, they are well suited to the storage of renewable energy for use in an electric grid, where battery weight is less of an issue and low-temperature operation a plus. Batteries for grids are a fast-growing market for batteries.?
Argonne’s dedication to sustainable energy solutions is underscored by this technological leap. Sodium-ion batteries could alleviate concerns about the available supply of low-cost elements for future vehicle batteries.?
This research also was funded by a Laboratory Directed Research and Development award from Argonne.??
BYD breaks ground on world's largest sodium-ion battery plant
The BYD Seagull, a diminutive electric hatchback previously rumoured to receive a sodium-ion battery pack.
BYD, the world's leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has officially commenced construction on its first sodium-ion battery plant, marking a significant step towards diversifying the EV battery landscape. This RMB 10 billion (NZ$2.25 billion) project boasts a planned annual capacity of 30 GWh, solidifying BYD's position as a pioneer in this emerging technology.
The move comes amidst growing interest in alternative battery chemistries. While lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the market, concerns regarding sustainability, cost, and resource scarcity have prompted industry leaders like BYD to explore innovative solutions. Sodium-ion batteries, with their abundant and readily available sodium resources, offer a promising alternative.
"Sodium batteries will be a low-cost solution that promotes the popularization of mass electric vehicles to the masses," declared Xia Shunli, Chairman of YiWei Tech, a new EV brand backed by Volkswagen that recently launched the industry's first sodium-ion-powered vehicle.
BYD's sodium play: following the Blade battery success
BYD's Blade Battery technology
BYD's foray into sodium-ion batteries is not an isolated venture. The company, already renowned for its LFP Blade Battery technology powering EVs from Tesla to Ford, partnered with Huaihai Holding Group in November 2023 to establish the aforementioned sodium-ion plant. This joint venture builds upon the success of their existing collaboration, a Blade battery factory currently nearing completion with early production slated for March.
While rumours hinted at the BYD Seagull being the first recipient of the company's sodium-ion technology, the car ultimately came equipped with the LFP Blade Battery. However, the recent groundbreaking signals a stronger commitment to realizing the potential of sodium-ion batteries in the near future.
The road ahead
Sodium-ion batteries, despite their advantages in cost and resource availability, currently suffer from lower energy density compared to their lithium-ion counterparts. This translates to shorter driving ranges, making them less suitable for high-performance vehicles. However, their potential in low-cost, smaller EVs and two-wheelers remains significant.
BYD's leadership in this space, coupled with the growing interest from other major players like CATL and YiWei, suggests a potential shift in the EV battery landscape. While challenges remain in refining sodium-ion technology for broader applications, the potential for cost-effective, sustainable electric mobility solutions is undeniable.?
As BYD's mammoth sodium-ion plant takes shape, the future of electric vehicles promises to become even more diverse and exciting.
Sodium-Ion battery
Sodium-ion batteries operate analogously to lithium-ion batteries, with both chemistries relying on the intercalation of ions between host structures. In addition, sodium based cell construction is almost identical with those of the commercially widespread lithium-ion battery types. However, sodium-ion batteries are characterised by several fundamental differences with lithium-ion, bringing both advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Many of the battery components in both sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries are similar due to the similarities of the two technologies. This post provides a high-level overview for the constituent cell parts in Sodium-ion batteries.
Sodium-Ion Cell Characteristics
Hard Carbon Anodes in Sodium-ion
Open Circuit Voltage
The OCV for the two cell datasets that we have to date are quite similar. The hysteresis between charge and discharge is small.
However, you can see that the voltage swing versus SoC is more significant than the other chemistries.
Sodium-Ion Degradation
Hina NaCR32140-MP10 sodium ion cell 0.5C Charge / 0.5C Discharge and 98% capacity retention after 500 cycles.
Reduce the DoD to 90% and even at 2C / 2C cycling the capacity retention is 96% after 3850 cycles, expected life to 80% SOH is >25,000 cycles.
Sodium Ion Battery Pack
This low cot battery technology is approaching fast with lots of announcements.
Achieving 120Wh/kg at pack level.
Sodium as a Green Substitute for Lithium in Batteries
Interest in developing batteries based on sodium has recently spiked because of concerns over the sustainability of lithium, which is found in most laptop and electric vehicle batteries.
This article is part of a series of pieces on advances in sustainable battery technologies that Physics Magazine is publishing to celebrate Earth Week 2024.
In the 1870 novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, writer Jules Verne imagined a submarine powered by sodium batteries. That idea has resurfaced, as several battery companies have begun manufacturing sodium-ion batteries as greener alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Sodium is just below lithium in the periodic table of the elements, meaning their chemical behaviors are very similar. That chemical kinship allows sodium-ion batteries to “ride the coattails” of lithium-ion batteries in terms of design and fabrication techniques. Recent demonstrations of sodium-ion batteries both for power tools and for automobiles have highlighted the rapid progress in the technology.
“Sodium-ion technology is really a clone of lithium-ion technology,” says Jean-Marie Tarascon from the College of France, who has worked for 35 years on battery technologies. Development of sodium-ion batteries has lagged behind that of lithium-ion batteries, but interest in sodium has grown in the past decade as a result of environmental concerns over the mining and shipping of lithium and its associated materials. Sodium is 1000 times more abundant than lithium, potentially reducing supply chains and lowering battery costs, Tarascon says. Other advantages of sodium-ion batteries include high power, fast charging, and low-temperature operation .
But there are also downsides to sodium-ion batteries, the top one being a lower energy density than their lithium-ion counterparts. Energy density has a direct bearing on the driving range of an electric vehicle, which means that sodium-powered cars may have trouble appealing to consumers who want a large vehicle that can go long distances. Lower energy density also affects the overall environmental impact of sodium-ion technology because more batteries are needed to supply the same amount of energy as the corresponding lithium-ion technology.
However, sodium-ion batteries are still improving, says Shirley Meng from the University of Chicago, who has been working on battery technology for 20 years. She says that the recent release of sodium-ion-powered products will accelerate development, as engineers will have data from real-world situations. “I have no doubt that the best sodium-ion batteries will work as well as lithium-ion ones in less than 10 years,” Meng says.
Batteries 101
Developed in the 1980s and recognized by the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the lithium-ion battery has become one of the most commonly used batteries in the world. It powers most phones and laptops, and it has driven the surge in electric vehicle production. Like most batteries, a lithium-ion battery consists of three main components: a positive electrode (cathode), a negative electrode (anode), and an ion-transporting medium (electrolyte) in between the two. There are various choices for the materials used for each component, but the most common design has an anode made of graphite (carbon); a cathode made of a lithium-containing metal oxide, such as lithium cobalt oxide or lithium manganese oxide; and an electrolyte that combines a lithium-based salt and an organic solvent.
A lithium-ion battery consists of an anode, a cathode, and a liquid electrolyte between them. Lithium ions move toward the anode when the battery charges and then move back to the cathode when it discharges. Electric current flows into and out of the battery through the wire connections at the two electrodes.
When the battery is working (discharging), lithium ions come out of the anode and move through the electrolyte to the cathode where they are absorbed. When the lithium ions enter the cathode, a chemical reaction occurs that essentially “draws” electrons into the cathode from the connecting wire. During charging, electrons flow out of the cathode, freeing the lithium ions so that they flow back into the anode.
Lithium-ion batteries have a number of attractive attributes. First and foremost, they are rechargeable and have a high-energy density of 100–300 watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), compared to 30–40 Wh/kg for common lead-acid batteries. That high density means your laptop or cellphone can have a battery that lasts throughout the day without weighing you down. In the case of electric vehicles, a typical battery can weigh around 250 kg and supply around 50,000 Wh of energy, which is typically enough to drive 200 miles (320 km). Many environmentalists see this capability as our ticket for transitioning away from fossil fuels.
However, not everything about lithium-ion batteries is an environmentalist’s dream. The main issue involves the materials, since the extraction of lithium is resource intensive , and the mining of some of the metal ingredients is polluting . There is also a lack of recycling infrastructure for today’s lithium-ion batteries, Meng says “The carbon footprint and the sustainability of the current way of making lithium-ion batteries is less than ideal.”
In addition to environmental concerns, the battery market is highly volatile, in part because the world has a limited number of lithium-rich regions. During the COVID pandemic, for example, the supply chain was cut off, and the price of lithium shot up. There are similar concerns over other lithium-ion-battery materials, such as nickel, copper, and graphite, which are also limited resources.
Lithium-ion alternatives include solid-state batteries (in which the liquid electrolyte is replaced by a solid one) and magnesium-ion batteries (in which magnesium ions replace lithium ions). Most of these options are still under development. And some of them also have issues concerning the availability of resources.
By contrast, sodium is abundant in seawater (although a more usable source is sodium ash deposits, which can be found in many regions of the world). And because sodium shares so much chemistry with lithium, sodium-ion batteries have been developing quickly and are already being commercialized. “Compared to other lithium-ion alternatives, I think sodium is at the forefront,” says Marcel Weil, who assesses the environmental impact of batteries at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Helmholtz Institute Ulm in Germany.
A Tale of Two Ions
Sodium-ion batteries are not new. Lithium and sodium systems were equally studied up until the 1980s. Interest in the two technologies diverged when researchers began to make breakthroughs in lithium-ion batteries. By the 1990s, research on sodium-ion batteries had largely halted. But some, including Tarascon, kept dabbling in the technology, even as they developed lithium-ion systems. In 2012, Tarascon helped relaunch sodium-ion research in France. His reasoning was that sodium appeared more sustainable. “It became obvious, to me at least, that the green technology would have a place in the future,” he says.
However, sodium and lithium atoms have differences, two of which are relevant for battery performance. The first difference is in the so-called redox potential, which characterizes the tendency for an atom or molecule to gain or lose electrons in a chemical reaction. The redox potential of sodium is 2.71 V, about 10% lower than that of lithium, which means sodium-ion batteries supply less energy—for each ion that arrives in the cathode—than lithium-ion batteries. The second difference is that the mass of sodium is 3 times that of lithium.
Together these differences result in an energy density for sodium-ion batteries that is at least 30% lower than that of lithium-ion batteries [1]. When considering electric vehicle applications, this lower energy density means that a person can’t drive as far with a sodium-ion battery as with a similarly sized lithium-ion battery. In terms of this driving range, “sodium can’t beat lithium,” Tarascon says.
The energy density is also a problem when considering the overall environmental impact of a battery. Weil and his colleagues performed a comparison of sodium-ion batteries to lithium-ion batteries, looking at a number of environmental factors such as greenhouse gas emissions and resource usage [5]. Although sodium-ion batteries do not require as many of our planet’s limited resources, they currently release more greenhouse gases during production than an equivalent energy’s worth of lithium-ion batteries. The reason is that larger quantities of materials need to be processed into batteries to produce the same amount of energy.
Weil says that this report provides a current snapshot, and in time, the environmental impact of sodium-ion batteries will likely improve. “We are convinced that they could have an even better overall performance than present lithium-based systems,” he says.
A comparison of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. From left to right the columns show abundance of lithium and sodium in Earth’s crust (in parts per million), energy density (in watt hours per kilogram), battery lifetime (in number of charging cycles), greenhouse gas emissions from battery production (in equivalent kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions), and resource usage (in equivalent grams of the element antimony, based on a calculation that accounts for all of the abundances of the batteries’ materials). Values apply to certain battery designs and may not be correct for every battery.
There are other differences between the two elements, some of which work in sodium’s favor. For example, sodium ions can travel faster through the battery materials than lithium ions, which might seem counterintuitive, given that sodium is heavier. Tarascon explains that a sodium ion has a diffuse electron cloud that allows it to slip between atoms more easily than a lithium ion, with its highly concentrated charge. The faster motion of a sodium ion can lead to higher power and faster charging in sodium-ion batteries.
Batteries Worth Their Salt
The current playbook for designing sodium-ion batteries resembles that of lithium-ion batteries. For the anode, most designs use “hard carbon,” which is like the graphite in lithium-ion batteries. The cathode options can be divided into three families of materials (metal oxide layers, polyanionic compounds, and Prussian blue analogs) that resemble those used for lithium. And the electrolyte is a similar cocktail of organic solvents.
Several research teams have tried to create sodium-based layered oxides for the cathode in an attempt to generate the high energy density that these compounds give lithium-ion batteries. Tarascon and his colleagues have taken a different strategy. They targeted a polyanionic compound—sodium vanadium fluorophosphate—as it seemed to be a promising material for making a high-power battery. And it appears that the bet paid off: last year Tiamat, a company for which Tarascon is a scientific advisor, produced a sodium-ion battery that is the first to be used in a commercial product—not a vehicle but a cordless power drill. The battery can charge in less than five minutes and can last a long time (over 5000 cycles), according to the company’s website.
Several large battery manufacturers have also announced sodium-ion projects that target the electric vehicle market. For example, CATL, a large Chinese battery company, announced last year that its first-generation sodium-ion battery—with an energy density of 160 Wh/kg—will be placed in an electric vehicle from the Chinese company Chery Automobile. Similar deals have recently been announced by the battery manufacturers HiNa and Farasis Energy, and several sodium-ion-powered vehicle prototypes have recently rolled off the assembly line. Meng calls these developments “very encouraging” as the companies will be collecting data under real-world driving conditions. “That information is vital for making the batteries better,” she says.
A Sociological Switch
But it may take some time before sodium-ion powered electric vehicles are widely available. One hurdle is economics. “The price of lithium has returned to a relatively low level, which makes sodium-ion batteries less competitive,” says a spokesperson from CATL. Moreover, they say, the lower energy density of sodium-ion batteries means the first target market will likely be smaller cars and two-wheeled vehicles.
In time, sodium-ion batteries will improve, but their driving range will never surpass the top-of-the-line lithium-ion batteries, Tarascon says. He imagines instead that sodium-ion technology will fill specific niches, such as batteries for smaller, single-person electric vehicles or for vehicles that have a range of only 30–50 miles (50–80 km). Weil agrees, but he says that society may have to change the way it views automobiles. “We cannot only point to the technology developers and say, ‘We need more efficiency.’ It’s even more important to stress that we need more ‘sufficiency,’ which is people being satisfied with a small car,” he says.
But whether sodium-ion or lithium-ion batteries come out on top, the world needs more battery-technology options if it is to reduce fossil-fuel consumption and combat climate change, Meng says. “If we always dream that one day a magic molecule is going to enable us to store solar and wind and use electricity when we need it, then I’m afraid that we will miss the golden opportunity to actually make some positive change.”
–Michael Schirber
Michael Schirber is a Corresponding Editor for?Physics Magazine based in Lyon, France.
Sodium-ion Battery vs Lithium-ion Battery: Which One Is Better?
Contents
When choosing the best type of battery for your electronic appliances, the debate between sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries is common. Both sodium (Na-ion) and lithium (Li-ion) batteries are rechargeable. Still, the materials used in the batteries are very different. Both of these batteries have advantages and disadvantages. This article lets us know which battery performs better on what terms.
Part 1. Sodium Battery and Lithium Battery
Diving into the world of batteries, we compare two promising contenders: lithium vs sodium batteries. Both have sparked interest in their unique qualities, sparking a lively debate among tech enthusiasts and environmental advocates. Let’s take a closer look to understand what sets them apart.
Part 2. What are Sodium-ion Batteries?
Before going into a detailed comparison of sodium-ion batteries vs lithium-ion batteries, we should know what sodium-ion batteries are. The sodium-ion battery (NIB or SIB) is a recharged battery using sodium ions as charge carriers. It comprises a sodium-containing cathode, an anode, and a liquid electrolyte. During charging, sodium ions are extracted and inserted into the anode, while discharging occurs reversely. There are various types of Sodium-ion batteries, including NaMnO2, Na3V2(PO4)2F3, Na2FeFe(CN)6, and Alarch. NaMnO2 batteries have a working voltage of 3.2V, a temperature range of -40℃~80℃, and a cycle life of 4500 cycles. Na3V2(PO4)2F3 batteries have an 18650 cell and demonstrate 75 Wh/kg and 4000 cycles at the 1C rate. Na2FeFe(CN)6 batteries are ideal for performance-positive electrodes and can be paired against anode materials.
Part 3. What is Lithium-ion Batteries?
Let’s take a look at Lithium-ion batteries. They are old and came into modern shape through different phases over many years. The first lithium-ion battery was developed in the 1970s, and with time, it developed positively.
The four main components of a Li-ion battery are the cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator. The cathode determines the battery’s capacity and voltage, while the anode sends electrons through a wire. The electrolyte allows the movement of only lithium ions between the cathode and anode, ensuring safety and allowing electricity to flow. Materials with high ionic conductivity are used to facilitate the movement of lithium ions, and the speed of lithium ions’ movement depends on the electrolyte type.
Part 4. Sodium-ion Battery vs Lithium-ion Battery
When deciding between a sodium-ion battery and a lithium-ion battery, it is hard to break down the difference between each battery; therefore, a comparison table will provide a clear view of these batteries.
?
Features Sodium-ion (Na-ion) Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Material Used Sodium batteries are made Lithium-in is copper based
of aluminum which is available that is not easily available.
.Cost- Sodium batteries are aluminium Lithium-ion battery uses
effectiveness which is cost cheap. copper which is higher than aluminium
LifeCycle It has a higher life cycle. It has a lower life cycle compared to sodium batteries.
Environmental Sodium-ion is eco-friendly with Lithium-in needs a change
Impact zero to store at zero charge. to store which can increase the risk.
Usability It is limited in use and not widely It is widely accepted and
accepted. Specially usable in especially used in EV Power
Power Density Sodium-ion has less power Density. Lithium-ion comes with higher powerdensity Charge Time A sodium-ion battery can charge The lithium-ion battery is fast vs a lithium-in battery a bit slower in charging rate
Safety Sodium batteries are safer Lithium batteries can as it does not explode. explode for some reason
1.Chemical Element
Both sodium-ion and lithium-ion are based on different working components. To better understand the difference between sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries, Let’s look at the chemical elements used as charge carriers. Lithium-ion uses the Li+ element of group alkali metals, the lightest and smallest in size. Its small size of 90 picometers makes it easy to move in and out of the electrode materials during charging and discharging time. On the other hand, sodium-ion uses the Na+ element of the same group of alkali metals. However, it is from the second period of group one and has the same properties as Li+. But it has 116 picometers in size, which is a larger one. So, the sodium ion can charge fast, but it has the disadvantage of discharging fast.
2. Battery Structur
Both sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries are the same at the battery structure level. These batteries work on the principles of electrodes, separators, and electrolytes. However, the conductive plates are made of different materials than sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries. Sodium batteries have aluminum plates for collecting current, and lithium-ion batteries are usually made of copper.
3. Battery Cost
If we compare these two types of batteries, sodium batteries are not double cost-effective batters. From manufacturing to user delivery, these batteries cost 3 to 4 times less than lithium batteries. This is due to its material; aluminum costs less than copper in lithium batteries. So we can say that the sodium battery is a clear winner in the competition for being cheap in the sodium battery vs. the lithium battery.
1.The pros and cons of sodium battery
Pros of Sodium-ion Battery
Cons of Sodium-ion Battery
2. The pros and cons of lithium battery
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of lithium-ion batteries. This will help determine the differences between the analysis of sodium-ion vs lithium-ion batteries.
Pros of Lithium-ion Battery
Cons of Lithium-ion Battery
Until now, you have had a better understanding of both versions. Exploration of the facts of sodium-ion battery vs lithium-ion battery illuminates their significant role in today’s tech-driven world. Also, it acknowledges the areas ripe for innovation and improvement.
Part 5. Summary to Make the Right Choice
Choosing a sodium-ion battery or a lithium-ion battery depends on the unique requirements and values. If you want sustainability and affordability, a sodium-ion battery could be the best choice because it offers a greener and more budget-friendly battery. However, on the other hand, if you are looking for a lithium-ion battery to get higher energy output and longevity Ufine lithium-ion battery can be a great choice. Ufine has every battery, including energy storage, transportation, medical, aerospace, and other fields. Remember that each battery type shines in its own right, presenting distinct advantages that cater to different needs, as we have made clear in the comparison of sodium-ion batteries with lithium-ion batteries. Your decision should depend most on your quest for reliable and efficient energy storage solutions.
Rainmaker Chemical Engineer | B2B PPA Solar | Graphene Specialist | Government Contracting | $35MM in Grants and Federal Contracting Thus Far | Tax Credits Bought & Sold
10 个月Cost, Safety. And Environmentally sound. Just have to put a few extra in the cabinet for energy density. FYI we are specifying these for military applications because they can be safely transported globally. Great article.