What is the deal with Sodium batteries anyway?
A sodium battery is environmentally friendly, and also happens to have a longer lifespan than its competitors. These batteries charge completely in eight minutes. The new battery from Natron will alter the rules of the energy world!
Already being developed as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries are sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), which employ sodium, which is abundantly available and fairly priced (LIBs). As Na is three times heavier than Li and has a lower standard electrochemical potential than Li, it is difficult for the built-in SIBs to exceed the LIBs in terms of energy density, specific capacity, or rate capability. Until far, the majority of active research has focused on the analysis of cathode materials in SIBs, such as polyanionic compounds and layered transition metal oxides, with anode materials receiving very little attention. For the assessment of SIB anode materials, a suitable link with the analogous reaction in LIBs is often necessary.
The ecological revolution is well underway. More electric cars (EVs) are being sold off dealer lots than can be produced. With enormous grid-level batteries to store their incredibly pure energy, solar and wind farms are springing up all around. There is an issue, though, and it has the potential to ruin this entire project.
In other words, we must improve if we want to see the world achieve carbon neutrality. In order for EVs to be extensively used or for solar and wind power to rule the energy industry, batteries must be more affordable, last longer, and have a lower environmental effect.
Herein lies the value of Natron's sodium battery.
For a time now, sodium-ion batteries have appeared promising. They are mostly formed of sodium rather than lithium, as the name would imply. As sodium chloride (NaCl), a major ingredient in the creation of these batteries, is abundantly present in the ocean, the process of extracting it requires little energy and is straightforward. Also, if we began mining salt on a big scale, the salinity of the ocean would hardly change due to the abundance of salt in the oceans. In contrast to lithium-ion batteries, sodium batteries may also employ inexpensive elements like Persian Blue in place of cobalt, manganese, or nickel (a material used as pigment used for painting).
As a result, compared to lithium-ion batteries, sodium batteries have a negligibly small carbon footprint and environmental effect. In addition, it implies that material costs are much lower, suggesting that if manufacturing is at scale, they may be even lower.
