New cathode material can produce high-performance, cost-effective, environment-friendly Na-ion batteries as next-generation energy storage systems

Source: The post is based on the article “New cathode material can produce high-performance, cost-effective, environment-friendly Na-ion batteries as next-generation energy storage systems” published in PIB on 16th May 2023

What is the News?

Indian scientists have developed a new cathode material that can produce high-performance, cost-effective, environment-friendly Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries as next-generation energy storage systems.

Background

Currently, the two dominant commercial options to fulfil energy storage needs in India are lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and lead-acid batteries (LAB).

Lead-acid batteries (LAB): They are hugely popular in India — especially for the manufacturing of two and three-wheeler electric vehicles — owing to their affordability, material accessibility and recycling rates.

– However, these batteries have various social, environmental and safety-related issues, despite years of innovation and popularity. 

– The accumulation of lead — released from the dominant informal recycling sector of the country — in the human body can be fatal as it damages neurons of the central nervous system and hinders mental growth in children.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB): They have gained high commercial value in the global market due to their high energy density, compact size and enhanced cycle life.

– These batteries have the upper hand in performance when compared to LABs. However, material scarcity and higher costs restrain their production up-scaling.

Due to these shortcomings, the market has been eyeing capturing the potential of a promising alternative — Sodium-ion batteries (SIB).

What are the advantages of Sodium-ion batteries (SIB)?

SIBs have 45% less global warming potential than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. They have also shown positive results in retaining capacity, resisting moisture and having little voltage fade, a common phenomenon with prolonged LIB cycles.

SIBs have higher operational safety than LIBs with their operable temperature ranging from -30℃-60℃, making their temperature endurance higher than other battery chemistries.

SIBs can be discharged to zero volts to avoid accidents during transportation, which also reduces the cost of transportation.

What are the disadvantages of Sodium-ion batteries (SIB)?

Despite the advantages of Sodium-ion batteries, the electrochemical behavior and stability of the ‘layered’ Na-TM-oxide-based cathode materials upon moisture exposure require substantial improvements to enable widespread usage of Na-ion battery systems. 

The lack of stability not only poses challenges in handling and storing Na-TM-oxides but also negatively affects their electrochemical performance. 

To overcome these challenges, researchers have developed a new cathode material that can produce high-performance, cost-effective, environment-friendly Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries.