Sodium-ion EV battery breakthrough pushes performance to theoretical limits
This development allows sodium-ion batteries to achieve comparable performance and efficiency to lithium-ion batteries.
Researchers at the Dincă Group from Princeton University have developed a sodium-ion battery that utilizes a new organic cathode material, bis-tetraaminobenzoquinone (TAQ), which has shown remarkable energy performance.
Tianyang Chen, Dincă Group Ph.D. and first author on the paper,said:
The battery can store the same amount of energy within a much shorter charging time, or can store much more energy within the same charging time,
The innovative technology has significant implications for various applications, including electric vehicles, data centers, and renewable energy systems.
Addressing limitations of current batteries
This development addresses limitations associated with current energy storage technologies. Lithium-ion batteries, while widely used, rely on lithium, a resource with limited availability and complex supply chains.
Sodium-ion batteries, on the other hand, offer a more sustainable and affordable solution. Sodium is abundant and widely available, reducing reliance on scarce resources.
By utilizing sodium-ion technology, the negative environmental impact of energy storage can be mitigated, and a more stable supply chain can be ensured. However, they also suffer from several challenges.
The researchers in a press release,added:
While scientists have made some progress with sodium-ion batteries, hurdles arise largely because of their low energy density: they have shorter battery-run times relative to their size,
This limitation has hindered their widespread adoption in various applications.
Mircea Dincă, the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Chemistry, remarked:
Energy density is something on a lot of people’s minds because you can equate it with how much juice you get in a battery.
“The more energy density you have, the farther your car goes before you have to recharge it,”
TAQ cathode material could be a solution
The Dincă Group’s new cathode material, bis-tetraaminobenzoquinone (TAQ), addresses these limitations. TAQ exhibits exceptional performance in both energy and power density, which could even surpass traditional lithium-ion cathodes.
This breakthrough enables sodium-ion batteries to compete with lithium-ion batteries in terms of performance and efficiency.
Prior research by the group explored TAQ’s use in lithium-ion batteries. This investigation revealed specific properties of TAQ, including insolubility and conductivity.
These properties are relevant to the material’s performance within a battery. Insolubility contributes to the stability of the cathode, preventing its breakdown during battery operation. Conductivity facilitates electron flow, a critical process for energy storage and release.
These findings prompted further study of TAQ’s potential in sodium-ion batteries.
Constructing a sodium-ion battery with TAQ required design modifications. The transition from lithium-ion to sodium-ion technology involves distinct engineering considerations.
Researchers spent a year adapting existing methods to accommodate the specific requirements of sodium-ion chemistry.
Performance metrics and potential
The resulting battery demonstrated performance close to its theoretical maximum capacity. This suggests TAQ’s potential for practical applications.
Chen, explained:
The binder we chose, carbon nanotubes, facilitates the mixing of TAQ crystallites and carbon black particles, leading to a homogeneous electrode,
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
This optimized structure allows for nearly 100% utilization of the active material, pushing the battery’s performance close to its theoretical limits.
Moreover, the new battery showed impressive performance metrics.
The study, concluded:
It exhibits a high theoretical capacity of 355 mAh/g per formula unit, enabled by a four-electron redox process, and achieves an electrode-level energy density of 606 Wh/kg (90 wt % active material) along with excellent cycling stability,
These figures underscore the potential of this technology to compete with and eventually surpass existing lithium-ion batteries in various applications.
READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market
Sodium-ion EV battery breakthrough pushes performance to theoretical limits, source
