Researchers have developed a new coin-shaped sodium-based battery that can be rapidly charged in “seconds” and could one day power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs).
By combining conventional negative electrode materials, battery Using the cathode of a supercapacitor (a battery that can store and deliver energy at very high rates), scientists have created a new type of sodium-ion battery with both high capacity and fast charging capabilities. Did.
They are seeking ways to overcome the current limitations of sodium-ion energy storage, which is touted as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, and described their findings in a study published March 29 in the same journal. energy storage materials.
The new sodium-ion hybrid fuel cell could serve as a “viable next-generation battery alternative to lithium-ion batteries,” the researchers said in their paper. Joint statementused in a variety of applications from laptops and mobile devices to electric vehicles and aerospace technology.
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Sodium is much more abundant than lithium, up to 1,000 times more abundant, the researchers said. Sodium-ion batteries could therefore be cheaper and more sustainable to produce than the lithium-ion batteries currently used to power most EVs and consumer electronics.
However, existing sodium-ion batteries have lower output and storage capacity than lithium-ion batteries, and take longer to charge, which limits battery usage. potential applications. In the new study, researchers sought ways to address the shortcomings of this technique.
The research represents a “groundbreaking achievement that overcomes the current limitations of energy storage systems.” Jung Ku Kangsaid the study’s lead author, a professor of materials science and engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), in a statement.
They achieved their prototype by developing a new type of anode consisting of ultrafine iron sulfide particles embedded in sulfur-doped carbon and graphene. This improved electrical conductivity and energy storage. For the cathode, they used a “zeolite imidazolate framework” (ZIF), a type of organometallic framework that creates a porous crystal structure by combining metal ions and organic molecules. This increased the speed of battery charging and discharging.
Once assembled, the complete cell can achieve an energy storage capacity of 247 watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and deliver power at a rate of up to 34,748 watts per kilogram (W/kg), the researchers said. . This means they can hold more energy for their weight than existing hybrid sodium-ion batteries and can charge and discharge power more quickly, outperforming existing technologies by more than 100 times. .
Researchers say the battery maintained its efficiency and performance over 5,000 charge-discharge cycles in tests, suggesting it can be used repeatedly for long periods of time without wearing out. This is very important for applications such as grid energy storage systems and EVs where batteries need to last for long periods of time without degrading. By comparison, many lithium-ion batteries used in commercially available laptops, for example, Maintains up to 500 charge cycles before deterioration begins.
