Revolutionary progress in sodium battery technology promises safer, more enduring energy storage solutions.
In a significant advancement for renewable energy storage, a team of researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) has developed a new battery material that promises safer, longer-lasting energy storage.
Led by Dr. Cheng Zhang, Group Leader at AIBN, and first-year PhD student Zhou Chen, the team has developed a plastic-like solid electrolyte for sodium metal batteries (SMBs) named P(Na-EO)-PFPE. The research was published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society and co-authored by Zhou Chen, Zhuojing Yang, Xiao Tan, Yiqing Wang, Associate Professor Bin Luo, Xiaoen Wang, Maria Forsyth, Craig J. Hawker, Debra J. Searles, and Cheng Zhang.
The development of this new material is particularly noteworthy as SMBs are a promising candidate for grid-scale energy storage due to the use of inexpensive and widely available sodium (salt). However, despite their eco-friendlier nature compared to lithium-ion batteries, SMBs have persistent safety and performance issues that prevent real-world use.
One of the major safety issues with SMBs is the flammability and overheating potential of their liquid electrolytes, which can cause fires. These fires often stem from dendrite growth, tiny metal spikes that form inside the battery and pierce through internal layers, triggering short circuits.
Zhou Chen, a joint PhD student under Dr. Zhang and computational scientist Professor Debra Bernhardt, brought a unique perspective to the challenge due to his background in both computational modelling and hands-on engineering from his time at battery manufacturer BYD. Zhou re-engineered the internal architecture of the material to achieve better battery performance. The new electrolyte naturally forms internal tunnels wide enough for sodium ions to flow smoothly and efficiently, thus preventing dendrite growth.
The AIBN-developed battery lasted more than 5,000 hours at 80°C and retained over 91% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles, which is a strong result for long-duration renewable energy applications. Dr. Cheng Zhang stated that the long-term performance of the AIBN-developed battery is essential for grid-level energy storage and brings them closer to a more renewable-powered future.
The collaboration that led to the development of the new sodium accumulator involved researchers from multiple institutions, but the specific institutions involved are not detailed in the search results provided. Dr. Zhang pointed out that the success of the project reflects the power of combining academic research with real-world industry experience.
However, the next challenge is to optimize the efficiency of the material at room temperature to make it commercially viable. With this breakthrough, the team at AIBN is one step closer to addressing the safety and performance issues that have plagued SMBs, potentially paving the way for safer, longer-lasting energy storage solutions for the future.
This latest breakthrough in sodium batteries could lead to a significant shift in the renewable energy storage landscape, offering a more eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
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