Cheap sodium-sulfur battery boasts 4x the capacity of lithium-ion

An international team of scientists eyeing next-generation energy storage solutions have demonstrated an eco-friendly and low-cost battery with some exciting potential. The group’s novel sodium-sulfur battery design offers a fourfold increase on energy… Continue reading Cheap sodium-sulfur battery boasts 4x the capacity of lithium-ion

Separator made from seaweed gives next-gen battery a performance boost

Batteries that make use of sodium as an electrode material are showing exciting promise by some key measures when it comes to next-generation energy storage solutions, and new research has now edged them closer to mainstream use. Scientists in the UK h… Continue reading Separator made from seaweed gives next-gen battery a performance boost

Powdered sodium battery design promises a 15% leap in energy density

With real uncertainty clouding the world’s supply of lithium, alternative battery chemistries will be crucial as we continue our uptake of electric vehicles and mobile devices. One exciting candidate in this space is sodium-ion, and a research team in … Continue reading Powdered sodium battery design promises a 15% leap in energy density

Natron to kick off mass-production of long-life sodium-ion batteries

Natron’s sodium-ion batteries have an enormous cycle life, practical power density, excellent safety and super-fast charging, without using any lithium. Through a partnership with Clarios, they’ll go into mass manufacture in Michigan next year.Continue… Continue reading Natron to kick off mass-production of long-life sodium-ion batteries

Electrode takes after layered pastry to give eco-friendly battery a boost

When it comes to alternative battery architectures that might offer improved performance, there are many exciting possibilities and one very common roadblock. Needle-like growths called dendrites form on the electrode to hamper the performance of many … Continue reading Electrode takes after layered pastry to give eco-friendly battery a boost

Two-faced graphene offers sodium-ion battery a tenfold boost in capacity

Whether it’s forming special foams that act as thermal switches, mixing with ceramics to form ultra-tough electrolytes or being used to cage delicate silicon particles, graphene is already shaping the future of battery technology in some interesting wa… Continue reading Two-faced graphene offers sodium-ion battery a tenfold boost in capacity

Chinese giant CATL launches a commercial salt-based battery for EVs

A cheap and abundant material like salt might have plenty to offer the world of science, and one field where it could have game-changing effects is battery chemistry. Leveraging salt could help us avoid much of the cost and difficulty in sourcing scarc… Continue reading Chinese giant CATL launches a commercial salt-based battery for EVs

Anode-free sodium battery could cut cost and size from everyday devices

In the ongoing search for materials for new and improved batteries, sodium as a cheap and widely abundant option ticks some important boxes, but bringing these experimental designs up to speed is far from a straightforward undertaking. A new design out… Continue reading Anode-free sodium battery could cut cost and size from everyday devices

Newly discovered mineral offers a blueprint for next-gen battery parts

Just like standard lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries work by sending ions back and forth between a pair of electrodes in a liquid electrolyte, but current designs have their limitations. A research team in Russia has discovered a new bright, … Continue reading Newly discovered mineral offers a blueprint for next-gen battery parts

Experimental all liquid-metal battery stays liquid at room temperature

Liquid and solid-state batteries each have their own advantages and disadvantages, but now researchers at the University of Texas at Austin claim to have developed a new battery that mixes the best of both worlds. The new design is the first all-liquid… Continue reading Experimental all liquid-metal battery stays liquid at room temperature