- AR4 Tech, based in Coimbatore, has partnered with Singapore’s Sodion Energy to revolutionise the energy storage landscape by manufacturing sodium-ion battery packs for both local and worldwide markets.
- These sodium-ion batteries will be used to convert traditional petroleum-powered vehicles, especially two-wheelers, to electric cars.
What exactly is a Sodium Ion Battery (NIB)?
- A NIB is a form of rechargeable battery that stores and releases electrical energy using sodium ions as charge carriers.
- Sodium-ion batteries, which work in the same way as lithium-ion batteries, provide an alternative energy storage solution with possible benefits such as cost-effectiveness and an abundance of sodium supplies.
Important attributes
- Working Principle: Sodium-ion batteries work in the same way that lithium-ion batteries do. Sodium ions are transferred from the positive electrode (cathode) to the negative electrode (anode) during charging and back to the cathode during discharge, creating electrical energy in the process.
- Anode made of sodium: The anode of a sodium-ion battery is often made of materials that can intercalate (absorb) sodium ions during charging. In sodium-ion batteries, graphite and other carbon-based materials are often utilised for the anode.
- Cathode Materials: Transition metal oxides and polyanionic compounds can be utilised as cathodes in sodium-ion batteries. These cathode materials enable the battery’s energy storage function by allowing sodium ions to be stored and discharged.
- In a sodium-ion battery, the electrolyte facilitates the flow of sodium ions between the anode and cathode during charge and discharge cycles. A solid electrolyte or a liquid electrolyte containing sodium salts is generally used in sodium-ion batteries.
Benefits provided
- Resources: Because sodium is more abundant and widely available than lithium, sodium-ion batteries may be less expensive.
- Environmental Impact: Because sodium resources are more widely available, they may have a smaller environmental impact than lithium-ion batteries.
Challenges
- Sodium-ion batteries have a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, which limits its applicability in applications needing significant energy storage capacity.
- Cycle Life: For sodium-ion batteries, ensuring a long cycle life (the number of charge and discharge cycles a battery may go through before losing capacity) remains a difficulty.
Source: https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/Reliance-buys-sodium-ion-battery/100/web/2022/01