Syllabus:
GS3: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.
Context:
A Bengaluru-based Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) team developed a high-performance NASICON-type sodium-ion battery using advanced material engineering.
More on the News
• Since lithium-ion batteries rely on rare and costly elements like cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, technology firms across the globe have been actively exploring alternative solutions including sodium-ion batteries.
• Unlike typical sodium-ion batteries, the NASICON-type sodium-ion battery uses advanced chemistry and nanotech for faster charging and longer lifespan.
- It can charge up to 80 per cent in just six minutes and claims to last over 3,000 charge cycles.
• The JNCASR team enhanced the anode by nanosizing particles, adding a carbon coating, and doping with aluminium, boosting sodium-ion speed, safety, and durability.
Sodium-ion Batteries
- Sodium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that uses sodium ions (Na+) as the charge carriers, offering a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
- They work similarly to lithium-ion batteries, with sodium ions moving between the positive and negative electrodes during charging and discharging.
Advantages of Sodium-ion Batteries
- Availability: Sodium is far more abundant than lithium and can be extracted from seawater at lower costs, unlike lithium which is limited to a few countries and requires intensive mining.
- Environment Friendly: Sodium is more eco-friendly and can be safely transported at zero voltage, reducing fire risks. Lithium requires a minimum charge during storage, making it less safe and less environmentally friendly.
- Operating Temperature: Sodium-ion batteries have a higher operating temperature range and are hence safer. They can be used in more extreme temperatures without the risk of thermal runaway.
- Cost-effective: Sodium-ion battery uses aluminium, which is cheaper than the copper used in the lithium-ion battery tech.
Problems associated with the Sodium-ion Batteries
- This battery technology is still emerging, with limited industry participation. This keeps costs relatively high.
- Sodium-ion-based batteries have limitations of flexibility as they cannot be turned into various shapes like prismatic or cylindrical. They are also less energy-dense and have less storage capacity compared to lithium-based batteries.
- Sodium-ion batteries usually have a shorter cycle life than lithium iron phosphate ones which can exceed 8,000 cycles.