Every global champion in a competitive sport knows there is a youngster improving steadily somewhere. A challenger who could eventually topple them from their throne and claim the crown. Lithium has ruled the roost for the past decade. The reasons are simple. It has high density, and is the third-lightest element after hydrogen and helium. Today we ponder over whether the sodium-ion battery is up to the challenge.
What the Sodium-Ion Battery Has Up Its Sleeve
Greater energy density storage, and lower size and weight are critical factors for electric vehicles, and smartphones and other interconnected-devices. Lithium is exceptionally light, and delivers excellent voltage and capacity per unit of size. But is does have one weakness that could lead to its downfall, and that is stability.
The active material in a sodium-ion battery is just below lithium in the periodic table, as we can see in the above image. Sodium has other strengths beyond being the fourth-lightest element after hydrogen, helium, and lithium. It can already reach voltages coming close to lithium in batteries. Behind the scenes, this makes sodium batteries nearly as powerful.
The Road Ahead for Sodium-Ion Technology
Technology Review suggests sodium-ion batteries could reach pack densities of nearly 150 watt-hours per kilogram by 2025. This already overlaps the lower end of lithium-ion, with the added advantage of allowing non-flammable, water-based electrolyte.
Some electric vehicle makers in China are actively researching this alternative technology. When sodium-ion technology reaches the market as it likely will, users will benefit from somewhat lower cost, better safety characteristics, and similar power delivery parameters.
However, sodium will still lag behind lithium-ion in terms of density as things stand. This could deter electric vehicle makers, but perhaps not power utilities placing a higher premium on greater stability.
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Sodium-Ion Future And What It Might Be
