Relief for lithium and the planet: Long-awaited sodium-ion batteries are starting to take shape. But for now, they are still “Usain Bolt batteries”.
The search for alternatives to lithium batteries has intensified as global demand for clean energy grows.
Lithium, although effective, has significant limitations, such as its limited availability and the environmental impact associated with its extraction.
As , these two points put into question risk to supply chains and trigger geopolitical tensions, given that lithium reserves are concentrated in only a few regions.
Being one of the most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust, sodium is seen as a good solution to overcome the challenges posed by lithium shortages.
Relief for lithium and the planet
Sodium offers numerous advantages, such as the ability to function at cooler temperatures and the possibility of being transported unladenreducing, for example, the risk of fires.
Furthermore, some innovations are trying remove problematic metaissuch as nickel, from battery components.
There is even the prospect of using abundant non-metallic materials such as wood and pigments in future battery compositions, which could further mitigate environmental impacts.
Major manufacturers are committed to developing mass production capabilities, targeting not only the energy storage market but also electric vehicles more accessible for urban use and electric bicycles.
Have you ever imagined that you could ride an electric bicycle powered by a battery made of salt and wood?
As New Scientist highlights, with continued research and technological improvement, these batteries have the potential to become an integral part of the global energy matrix, contributing significantly to the sustainability and energy security in the future.
For now, these are “Usain Bolt” batteries
However, sodium-ion batteries, despite being cheaper and more abundant, face performance challenges, particularly in energy density, which mainly affects their application in electric vehicles due to their reduced autonomy.
Rob Armstrong, from the University of St Andrews, in the United Kingdom, warns New Scientist that “sodium is not a fantastically wonderful material”.
Sodium ion batteries continue to not perform as well like lithium batteries. This lower energy density is a problem for the use of sodium-ion batteries in applications such as electric vehicles, limiting their practical range.
Natron Energy’s Jack Pouchet compares these batteries to the sprinter Usain Bolt: “They have a lot of energy, but only for a short period of time”.
