University of Surrey scientists have discovered a novel way to boost sodium-ion battery performance, providing a new path towards sustainable energy storage.
In stark contrast to their lithium-ion counterparts, sodium-ion batteries can be made using far more abundant and less environmentally damaging materials, making them a greener, cheaper alternative. Despite their promise, sodium-ion batteries have thus far fallen short on performance.
In their work, published in the journal Materials Chemistry, the researchers discovered that when the naturally occurring water is left in sodium vanadium oxide rather than taken out, performance is significantly improved. Known as nanostructured sodium vanadate hydrate (NVOH), the material demonstrates faster charging while remaining more stable for over 400 charge cycles.
"Our results were completely unexpected. Sodium vanadium oxide has been around for years, and people usually heat-treat it to remove the water because it's thought to cause problems," said Dr. Daniel Commandeur, Research Fellow at the University of Surrey.
"We decided to challenge that assumption, and the outcome was far better than we anticipated. The material showed much stronger performance and stability than expected and could even create exciting new possibilities for how these batteries are used in the future."
The discovery could accelerate sodium-ion battery development, propelling them towards being a viable alternative to lithium-based battery technologies.