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Researchers are developing new materials to improve the performance of sodium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage and EVs, too.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) attract significant attention due to their potential as an alternative energy storage solution, yet challenges persist due to the limited energy density of existing cathode materials. In principle, redox-active organic materials can tackle this challenge because of their high theoretical energy densities. However, electrode-level energy densities of organic electrodes are compromised due to their poor electron/ion transport and severe dissolution. Here, we report the use of a low-bandgap, conductive, and highly insoluble layered metal-free cathode material for SIBs. It exhibits a high theoretical capacity of 355 mAh g–1 per formula unit, enabled by a four-electron redox process, and achieves an electrode-level energy density of 606 Wh kg–1electrode (90 wt % active material) along with excellent cycling stability. It allows for facile two-dimensional Na+ diffusion, which enables a high intrinsic rate capability. Growth of the active cathode material in the presence of as little as 2 wt % carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes improves charge transport and charge transfer kinetics and further enhances the power performance. Altogether, these allow the construction of SIB cells built from an affordable, sustainable organic small molecule, which provide a cathode energy density of 472 Wh kg–1electrode when charging/discharging in 90 s and a top specific power of 31.6 kW kg–1electrode.

The US startup Inlyte continues to plan for commercial production of its long duration, sodium-iron energy storage technology.

The California startup Unigrid is on track to produce sodium-ion batteries for residential energy storage, leading up to EVs.

New sodium-ion batteries are pouring into the global market, with US-based Unigrid among the contenders aiming for international off-takers.

Sodium batteries are working their way into the commercial energy storage market in the US, challenging Tesla.

Researchers continue to work on a new generation of sodium-ion batteries, leading to the next generation of affordable EVs.

Chinese researchers say they have overcome one of the trickiest problems of battery chemistry by developing a special gel.

Researchers are developing new materials to improve the performance of sodium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage and EVs, too.

YouTube video by Ben Alexxander

Local Main Arm resident Sapoty Brook contacted The Echo to let them know that he has just received one of the first sodium-ion home batteries in Australia from BetterESS.

The first commercial application of a quinone-enabled flow battery system for long duration energy storage will take place in California.

The US startup Aslym Energy is launching its new "salt battery" sodium-ion energy storage formula into the global market.

A #sodiummetalbattery reached a four-minute laboratory rate, but its strongest lifespan figures came from slower and smaller tests. The pouch-cell results show why EV use remains a long way off.

As EV sales boom and grids seek more energy storage, researchers are racing to develop batteries that are cheaper, more powerful, and less reliant on hard-to-source materials. Lithium-ion still domina...