Start-up AR4 Tech, Sodium tie up to make sodium ion battery packs

Source: The post is based on the article “Start-up AR4 Tech, Sodium tie up to make sodium ion battery packs”  published in The Hindu on 28th August 2023

What is the News?

AR4 Tech, a start-up in Coimbatore, has partnered Sodium Energy of Singapore to make sodium ion battery packs for domestic and export markets

What is a Sodium ion battery?

The sodium-ion battery (NIB or SIB) is a type of rechargeable battery that uses sodium ions (Na+) as its charge carriers.

They have a similar design to their lithium-ion counterparts and can be manufactured using related methods. 

Both battery types generate electricity through a chemical reaction and are made up of an anode, cathode, separator and an electrolyte.

But in a sodium-ion battery, lithium ions are replaced with sodium ions in the battery’s cathode, and lithium salts swapped for sodium salts in the electrolyte.

What are the advantages of Sodium ion batteries?

Lower Global Warming Potential: SIBs have 45% less global warming potential compared to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Operational Safety: SIBs have higher operational safety than lithium-ion batteries (LIB) with their operable temperature ranging from -30℃-60℃, making their temperature endurance higher than other battery chemistries.

Zero Volt Discharge: They can be discharged to zero volts, reducing transportation costs and accidents.

What are the challenges related to  Sodium ion batteries?

SIBs face challenges due to the instability of their cathode materials, especially when exposed to moisture. This lack of stability negatively impacts the electrochemical performance of SIBs.

Why are Sodium ion batteries important for India?

India’s abundance of sodium sources makes the Na-ion battery system particularly crucial in the local context, offering a readily available and abundant resource for Na-ion battery production.