Researchers from Canada were able to understand what exactly affects the instability of sodium-ion battery cells, and now these shortcomings can be eliminate.

A team from McGill University (Canada) recently developed a method that makes it possible to replace lithium in batteries with sodium. The publication Environment energy leader reported on the new development.

The sodium-ion battery is 30% lighter than its lithium-ion counterpart, which potentially provides significant advantages for portable electronics and electric vehicles, where weight is a decisive factor. However, lithium reserves are limited. It is for this reason that researchers are actively looking for alternative materials for the production of batteries. Sodium can be such an alternative.

The main obstacle when using sodium for batteries is the instability of the cathode material when exposed to air. This poses a serious challenge for retrofitting existing manufacturing facilities that currently produce lithium-ion energy storage. Sodium reacts with carbon dioxide and water vapor in the air to form sodium carbonate and other byproducts. Water can penetrate the material, turning it into a structure unsuitable for use in batteries. However, the scientists solved this problem by testing the effect of 52 different elements on the stability of a sodium-ion battery.

The researchers were able to determine which elements effectively maintain battery stability when used together with sodium. Machine learning algorithms were used to process the huge amount of generated data, which included many interrelated variables. A powerful AI tool helped rationalize large amounts of information by separating variables and creating complex functions that take into account all competing parameters. So, it became clear which materials really affect performance, and which — no.

While sodium-ion batteries have good prospects, they still have a long way to go before they completely supplant lithium-ion, especially in electric vehicles. Lithium batteries emerged as a result of more than 40 years of research and development, setting a high bar for alternatives. However, Canadian scientists are optimistic about the progress achieved and emphasize the desire for further improvement of these materials.