Charging future EVs could take seconds with new sodium-ion battery tech

Researchers Develop Rapid-Charging Sodium-Based Battery with High Capacity

Researchers have developed a new coin-type sodium-based battery that can charge rapidly “in seconds” and could potentially power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs) in the future.

Combining Anode Materials and Supercapacitor Cathodes

By combining anode materials used in conventional batteries with cathodes from supercapacitors — batteries that can store and deliver energy at very high rates –– the scientists created a new type of sodium-ion battery that offers both high capacity and rapid-charging capabilities.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

They were looking for a way to overcome the current limitations of sodium-ion energy storage — touted as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries — and described their findings in a study published March 29 in the journal Energy Storage Materials.

Potential Applications and Advantages

The new sodium-ion hybrid fuel cells could serve as a “viable next-generation alternative to lithium-ion batteries,” the researchers said in a joint statement, with applications ranging from laptops and mobile devices to electric vehicles and aerospace technologies.

Sodium-ion Batteries: Abundance and Limitations

Sodium is significantly more abundant than lithium –– up to 1,000 times more, the researchers said –– making sodium-ion batteries potentially cheaper and more sustainable to produce than the lithium-ion batteries currently used to power most EVs and consumer electronics.

However, existing sodium-ion batteries offer lower power output and storage capacity than lithium-ion batteries and take longer to charge, thus limiting their potential applications. In the new study, the researchers sought a way to tackle the shortcomings of the technology.

Breakthrough in Energy Storage Systems

The research represents “a breakthrough in overcoming the current limitations of energy storage systems,” Jeung Ku Kang, lead author of the study and a professor of materials science and engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), said in the statement.

Prototype Development

They achieved their prototype by developing a new type of anode from ultrafine iron sulfide particles embedded in sulfur-doped carbon and graphene. This improved conductivity and energy storage. For the cathode, they used a “zeolitic imidazolate framework” (ZIF) — a type of metal-organic framework that combines metal ions with organic molecules to create a porous, crystalline structure. This improved how quickly the battery could charge and discharge.

Improved Energy Storage Capacity and Performance

The team said the full cell, once assembled, achieved an energy storage capacity of 247 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and could deliver power at a rate of up to 34,748 watts per kilogram (W/kg). This means it could hold more energy for its weight than existing hybrid sodium-ion batteries and could charge and discharge power much more quickly, exceeding the performance of existing technology by more than 100 times.

The battery also maintained efficiency and performance over 5,000 charge and discharge cycles in tests, the researchers said, suggesting it could be used repeatedly over a long period without wearing out. This is crucial for applications where batteries need to last a long time without degrading, such as in grid energy storage systems and EVs. By comparison, many lithium-ion batteries used in commercial laptops, for example, can sustain up to 500 charge cycles before beginning to degrade.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the development of a new sodium-based battery that can charge rapidly and potentially power smartphones, electric vehicles, and other devices. This aligns with SDG 7, which focuses on affordable and clean energy. The research also represents an innovation in energy storage systems, connecting to SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure. The use of sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries can contribute to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) by utilizing more abundant and sustainable resources. Additionally, the development of more efficient and rapid-charging batteries can support climate action (SDG 13) by reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based energy sources. Finally, the joint statement mentioned in the article highlights the importance of partnerships (SDG 17) in advancing this technology.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities
• Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships

The development of sodium-based batteries aligns with the targets mentioned above. By utilizing renewable energy sources such as sodium, the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix can be increased (Target 7.2). Upgrading infrastructure and industries to incorporate this new technology can contribute to making them more sustainable (Target 9.4). The use of sodium-ion batteries can help reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities by providing a cleaner energy source (Target 11.6). Additionally, the development of more efficient and sustainable battery technology supports the achievement of sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources (Target 12.2). Integrating sodium-ion batteries into national policies and strategies can also contribute to climate change mitigation (Target 13.2). Finally, partnerships between researchers, industry, and other stakeholders are crucial for the successful development and implementation of this technology (Target 17.17).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

The article does not provide specific indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, potential indicators could include the percentage increase in the share of sodium-based batteries in the global energy mix (Target 7.2), the number of industries and infrastructure retrofitted with sodium-ion battery technology (Target 9.4), the reduction in carbon emissions from cities using sodium-ion batteries (Target 11.6), the amount of natural resources saved through the use of sodium-ion batteries (Target 12.2), the integration of sodium-ion battery technology in national policies and strategies (Target 13.2), and the number of effective partnerships established for the development and deployment of sodium-ion batteries (Target 17.17).

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Fuente: livescience.com

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