Will Sodium Batteries Replace Lithium Batteries?

In recent years,the development of lithium-ion batteries has been restricted a little due to the gradual shortage of lithium resources and the increase in costs.As a potential substitute,sodium-ion batteries with similar chemical mechanisms and lower costs have developed rapidly.Today,let us bring You understand the history and development of sodium ions,as well as its advantages.

History：

The sodium-ion battery was discovered in 1807 by an English chemist and inventor Sir Humphry Davy,but the actual development took place between 1970~1980s.

However,since the requirements for batteries in consumer batteries and power batteries in the 1990s focused on high energy density and service life,lithium-ion batteries have become more popular due to their better performance,at the same time,carbon-based materials such as soft carbon and graphite have better lithium insertion performance,but their sodium insertion ability is weak.Lithium batteries enter the industrialization stage faster from the technical maturity level,and the development of sodium-ion batteries fell into silence for a time.It was not until 2000 that the discovery of hard carbon anode materials brought a turning point for sodium-ion batteries.By around 2010,academic research related to sodium-ion batteries increased rapidly.

Current development:

In 2021,CATL officially released its first-generation sodium-ion battery.The energy density of the battery cell has reached 160Wh/kg.After charging for 15 minutes at room temperature,the power can reach more than 80%;in a low temperature environment of-20 degrees Celsius,It also has a discharge retention rate of over 90%.2023 is the first year of commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.Without complete statistics,there are currently more than 20 companies in China that have sodium-ion battery development and related technologies,including Hina Battery,CATL,Sunwoda,Shan Xi Hua Yang Group New Energy Co.,Ltd.,Sacred Sun,China Great Wall,DOWSTONE,GEM,China Sodium Times(CSIT),c.In addition,there are internationally renowned sodium-ion battery R&D companies such as Natron Energy,Faradion Limited,and Northvolt,etc.

Future predictions:

The main demand for sodium-ion batteries comes from the fields of low-speed electric vehicles and energy storage.Thanks to the rapid development of new energy vehicles and energy storage,the field of sodium-ion batteries is developing rapidly.It is expected that global demand for sodium-ion batteries will reach 116GWh in 2026.Among them,energy storage applications accounted for the highest proportion,reaching 71.2%.By 2030,global sodium-ion battery demand will grow to 526GWh.

What are the advantages of sodium-ion batteries?

Much safer than lithium ion battery.Sodium ion battery does not fire or explode during overcharge,over discharge,short circuit,acupuncture and other tests.It is easy to be passivated and oxidized in high temperature environments and does not spontaneously ignite.

Lower cost.Sodium-ion batteries have obvious cost advantages.First of all,the crustal abundance of sodium ions is about 2.36%,which is much higher than the 0.002%of lithium ions.Secondly,sodium ion compounds are highly accessible,stable and low-priced,1/50 of the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate.Compared with lithium-ion batteries,the overall cost is expected to be 30%lower than that of lithium-ion batteries.

Super fast charge.At normal temperature,it can be charged to 80%in 15 minutes at the fastest.

Excellent low temperature work performance.The normal operating temperature range of sodium-ion batteries is-40°C-80°C,and the capacity retention rate of some products can reach 88%at-20°C,which is significantly better than lithium iron phosphate with 60-70%capacity retention rate.

No over-discharge:the positive electrode can be discharged to 0V without affecting use,making the battery safer during storage and transportation.

So,will sodium ion batteries replace lithium ion batteries someday?You must have your own opinion now.

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