In a groundbreaking advancement for\u00a0energy storage technology<\/a>, a team of international researchers has developed an advanced sodium battery that boasts an energy capacity four times greater than its lithium-ion battery counterparts.<\/h2>\nSpearheaded by experts at the University of Sydney, the project has designed a new sodium battery that not only has a significantly increased energy storage capacity compared to lithium batteries but also is much cheaper the produce. The battery innovation could play a pivotal role in transitioning to a decarbonised economy.<\/p>\n
The study, \u2018Atomically Dispersed Dual-Site Cathode with a Record High Sulphur Mass Loading for High-Performance Room-Temperature Sodium\u2013Sulphur Batteries<\/a>,\u2019 is published in\u00a0Advanced Materials.<\/em><\/p>\nEnergy storage needs are increasing exponentially<\/h3>\n
As the planet strives toward employing more environmentally friendly sources of energy to achieve climate neutrality, developing advanced energy storage technologies will be critical.\u00a0A recent report from the Clean Energy Council<\/a>\u00a0found that in Australia in 2021, 32.5% of the country\u2019s electricity came from clean energy sources. A further\u00a0report on the Australian battery market<\/a>\u00a0also suggested that household energy storage is increasing, with a record 33,000 batteries installed in 2021.<\/p>\nDeveloping the most powerful sodium battery to date<\/h3>\n
The novel battery was fabricated using sodium-sulphur \u2013 a molten salt that can be processed from seawater \u2013 meaning it costs much less than sourcing lithium. Although sodium-sulphur batteries have existed for more than 50 years, they have failed to become widely used due to their low energy capacity and short life cycles.<\/p>\n
To overcome these limitations, the researchers employed a simple pyrolysis process and carbon-based electrodes to enhance the reactivity of sulphur and the reversibility of reactions between sulphur and sodium. This resulted in the sodium battery boasting a super-high capacity and ultra-long life at room temperature.<\/p>\n
The sodium battery is a more energy-dense and less toxic alternative to lithium-ion batteries that are used in most electronic devices and are expensive to create and recycle. The battery is designed as a high-performing alternative for large renewable energy storage systems that reduces operational costs, including electricity grids.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/iStockHT-Ganzo-1376153940-300x169.jpg\")
\u00a9 iStock\/HT Ganzo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDr Shenlong Zhao, the leader of the study\u00a0from the University\u2019s\u00a0School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, explained: \u201cOur sodium battery has the potential to dramatically reduce costs while providing four times as much storage capacity. This is a significant breakthrough for renewable energy development, which, although it reduces costs in the long term, has had several financial barriers to entry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the sun isn\u2019t shining, and the breeze isn\u2019t blowing, we need high-quality storage solutions that don\u2019t cost the Earth and are easily accessible on a local or regional level. We hope that by providing a technology that reduces costs, we can sooner reach a clean energy horizon. The faster we can decarbonise \u2013 the better chances we have of capping warming.<\/p>\n
\u201cStorage solutions that are manufactured using plentiful resources like sodium \u2013 which can be processed from seawater \u2013 also have the potential to guarantee greater energy security more broadly and allow more countries to join the shift towards decarbonisation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sodium battery has been successfully tested at the University of Sydney\u2019s chemical engineering facility, and the team aims to improve and commercialise the Ah-level pouch cells.<\/p>\n
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Energy storage needs are increasing exponentially<\/h3>\n
As the planet strives toward employing more environmentally friendly sources of energy to achieve climate neutrality, developing advanced energy storage technologies will be critical.\u00a0A recent report from the Clean Energy Council<\/a>\u00a0found that in Australia in 2021, 32.5% of the country\u2019s electricity came from clean energy sources. A further\u00a0report on the Australian battery market<\/a>\u00a0also suggested that household energy storage is increasing, with a record 33,000 batteries installed in 2021.<\/p>\n The novel battery was fabricated using sodium-sulphur \u2013 a molten salt that can be processed from seawater \u2013 meaning it costs much less than sourcing lithium. Although sodium-sulphur batteries have existed for more than 50 years, they have failed to become widely used due to their low energy capacity and short life cycles.<\/p>\n To overcome these limitations, the researchers employed a simple pyrolysis process and carbon-based electrodes to enhance the reactivity of sulphur and the reversibility of reactions between sulphur and sodium. This resulted in the sodium battery boasting a super-high capacity and ultra-long life at room temperature.<\/p>\n The sodium battery is a more energy-dense and less toxic alternative to lithium-ion batteries that are used in most electronic devices and are expensive to create and recycle. The battery is designed as a high-performing alternative for large renewable energy storage systems that reduces operational costs, including electricity grids.<\/p>\n Dr Shenlong Zhao, the leader of the study\u00a0from the University\u2019s\u00a0School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, explained: \u201cOur sodium battery has the potential to dramatically reduce costs while providing four times as much storage capacity. This is a significant breakthrough for renewable energy development, which, although it reduces costs in the long term, has had several financial barriers to entry.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the sun isn\u2019t shining, and the breeze isn\u2019t blowing, we need high-quality storage solutions that don\u2019t cost the Earth and are easily accessible on a local or regional level. We hope that by providing a technology that reduces costs, we can sooner reach a clean energy horizon. The faster we can decarbonise \u2013 the better chances we have of capping warming.<\/p>\n \u201cStorage solutions that are manufactured using plentiful resources like sodium \u2013 which can be processed from seawater \u2013 also have the potential to guarantee greater energy security more broadly and allow more countries to join the shift towards decarbonisation.\u201d<\/p>\n The sodium battery has been successfully tested at the University of Sydney\u2019s chemical engineering facility, and the team aims to improve and commercialise the Ah-level pouch cells.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nDeveloping the most powerful sodium battery to date<\/h3>\n
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