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Lithium is an important component of almost all modern rechargeable batteries. The problem is that the global supply is limited, that it is expensive and that it has a negative impact on the environment.
Sodium, on the other hand, is abundant and cheaper. But batteries based on sodium ion technology have not proven practical until now.
The problem with sodium batteries up to now is that ions get "lost" during the first charge cycles, sticking to the anode in the battery.
(Image: GE)
This creates an accumulation that prevents ions from returning to the cathode. This means that the batteries can no longer be recharged.
Researchers at Purdmiue University have been granted a provisional patent on a method that prevents this from happening.
They used ultrasound to melt pieces of sodium into a milky purple liquid. When it was cooled to powder, scientists placed it in a suspension and then applied it to the battery electrodes.
The process allowed the battery cell to charge and discharge with more stability and higher capacities.
The ion-sodium batteries would be heavier than their lithium-ion counterparts, so they might not be suitable for all applications. However, they would be useful for storing energy produced by renewable sources.
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A key problem with solar energy and wind energy is that they are not constantly available. The use of massive batteries to store energy until it is needed would help make renewable energy more reliable.
They could also be used for home energy storage for people using solar panels. These become more popular thanks to technological advances that allow them to generate more power.
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