Scientists from Skoltech and Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia have developed a new material for sodium ion batteries as an alternative to the currently used rechargeable lithium-ion technology. This material is a powder of "sodium phosphate vanadium phosphate fluoride" with a specific crystal structure, which can be used for battery cathodes to provide enhanced energy storage capacity and efficiency.
As lithium-ion batteries become increasingly common, providing power for developing new portable electronic products and electric vehicles, as well as storing energy generated by wind farms, this has driven greater demand for lithium resources. But the price of lithium is rising, and its production is problematic because the distribution of deposits around the world is uneven, and its storage capacity may also be a problem. And this new high-quality positive electrode material made of more abundant alkali metal sodium has improved energy efficiency by 10-15% compared to many similar products, and is resistant to low temperatures.
Although sodium ion battery technology is still very new, the basic architecture of battery cells is similar, and components such as cathodes require different materials. Researchers used solid-state chemical design to identify the material, which is very good compared to the layered material category of cathodes because it provides roughly the same capacity and higher stability, offering longer lifespan and higher cost-effectiveness.
Theory helped the research team find the basic formula for materials that can provide the required high energy storage capacity, and then determine which crystal structure can achieve this potential. Specific compounds and crystal structures were synthesized using low-temperature ion exchange method. Higher energy storage capacity is just one of the advantages of this material. It also enables the cathode to operate at lower ambient temperatures. The team has been researching how to develop affordable battery technologies based on cheap and rich elements as alternatives to lithium-ion batteries in rapidly growing large-scale applications such as large-scale power transportation and fixed storage. The research team stated, "This study provides a simple and direct synthesis method that can create new electrode materials that are considered metastable or even non-existent. Conversely, the development of such materials may pave the way for significantly improving battery performance
This study provides a simple and direct synthesis method to manufacture new electrode materials that are considered metastable or even non-existent. Conversely, the development of this material may pave the way for significantly improving battery performance. At present, the team is further researching the material to fully utilize the performance of sodium ion batteries.
New methods for the design and development of sodium ion batteries
