A paper was recently published in Nature Energy by Marnix Wagemaker and Alexandros Vasileiadis in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, on fast-charging Na-ion batteries and enhancements made to the negative electrode. These could be made out of organic materials. This reduces the dependence on rare materials that don’t come from Europe.
Plus point: cathode also improved
The Delft researchers have also improved the opposite side and published about it. This text in Nature Sustainability Fast-charge high-voltage layered cathodes for sodium-ion batteries details the event of a brand new positive electrode, based on design principles they published in Science in 2020, Rational design of layered oxide materials for sodium-ion batteries. From these design principles, a fabric has been designed that mixes the very best of two possible structures: high energy density is combined with fast charging. As an added bonus, the fabric appears to alter its structure very step by step during charging and discharging, making it last even longer. It also accommodates no cobalt as remains to be common in Li-ion cathodes.
Next steps
Because of the growing knowledge about these battery materials the third Growth Fund project sustainable battery technology the following step might be prepared. In it, along with Li-ion batteries research, Na-ion research will even be addressed nationally. The battery research might be further expanded, allowing this technology to be applied to national and European markets.
