Many of our everyday technologies rely on batteries, and the importance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is no exaggeration, but producing this type of battery is expensive, not to mention the difficulty of obtaining raw materials for that process. The process of producing sodium ion batteries may become easier and cheaper if we overcome the problem of operating these batteries, as well as eliminating the lithium-ion battery now in use, and we are close to achieving this goal.
Researchers have made the best possible version of sodium ion batteries so far, as one battery has been able to store a great deal of energy, and its performance is similar to that of commercial lithium batteries, a dramatic development in the field.
One of the most important advantages of sodium batteries is the mass energy storage, as the world moves towards renewable energy, as storage becomes increasingly important, and we will need cheap, scalable batteries.
"The main challenge is to have high energy density batteries and to last long at the same time," says metal engineer Junhua Song of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Announcement of a sodium ion battery that will compete with the circulating lithium-ion battery - rechargeable lithium-ion batteries - the interaction between electrolyte and cathode
So far, lithium batteries outperform sodium batteries, lasting longer and storing more energy, because most of the metals used in cathode - the cathode or negative electrode in the battery, the part that receives the flowing electrons — are exposed to a harmful accumulation of inefficient sodium crystals, resulting in a halt in energy transmission.
To overcome this, scientists suggested making a multilayered cathode of metal oxide, and then developed electrolyte - an electrolyte solution - a liquid containing more sodium ions, resulting in a combination that contained a higher concentration of salt within the battery, better interaction with the cathode, and no accumulation of sodium crystals.
After 1,000 cycles, the new sodium ion battery still retains more than 80% of its charge, yet this is not enough to be suitable for use in smartphones, but it's a big step towards alternative battery technology that promises a lot of future development.
"Our research revealed the basic correlation between the evolution of the cathode structure and surface interaction with electrolytes, and this is one of our best findings regarding the multi-layered sodium cathode battery, making it an effective, viable technology compared to lithium batteries," said mineralist Yohi Lin of the University of Washington.
Not only did the scientists do so, but they wanted to improve efficiency by examining the interaction between electrolyte and cathode, as they aimed to dispense with cobalt, a rare hard-to-obtain mineral used in commercial lithium batteries and experimental sodium batteries.
Although lithium batteries dominate the market, due to their use in smartphones, mobile devices and electric cars, they have drawbacks, including expensive sources of lithium. Since we are in dire need of those batteries, it makes sense to look for an alternative.
This does not mean that lithium batteries are removed from future innovations and plans, as scientists work hard to make them last longer, and to charge quickly, it's better to have more options regardless of what they are.
"This work paves the way for practical sodium ion batteries, and key ideas about the interaction between the airstrip and the electrosolution shed light on how cobalt-free cathode materials are developed in sodium ion batteries, as well as other types of batteries." If we can find viable practical alternatives to both lithium and cobalt, the sodium ion battery may be able to compete with its lithium-ion counterpart, and then all the data will change."
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