Sodium-ion (SIB) batteries are an intriguing energy storage technology option. They are promising, yet still unproven in commercial applications. While the premise of low cost SIB is still debated and compared/contrasted to lithium-ion, it may depend on where advanced Li-ion batteries proceed, and how fast their influence and tremendous growth is in an ever-increasing, power-hungry world. Nevertheless, many researchers worldwide are ramping up assessment and exploration of sodium systems, mostly in the development of new cathode materials [1]. However, the anode in SIB is the most critical electrode and dictates the energy density much more so than the cathode capacity [2]. Achieving a high anode capacity (at the very least ~ 600 mAh/g) with low voltage operation and the requisite safety, life and cost is critical if the SIB is to have a significant impact in real world energy storage applications. In my presentation, a number of anode materials’ chemistry and electrochemistry will be evaluated and discussed. These systems include sodium alloys with Sn, Sb, Bi, Ge, Pb in carbon-composite particles or in elemental thin-film form, SnSb intermetallics, nano-tube TiO2 and Na2-xHxTi2O4(OH)2, conversion anodes like Sb2O4, Co3O4, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, PbO, PbO2, Sn-Na2O conversion-alloying composite, and lastly, spherically-shaped hard carbons. Notably, the Sn-Na2O conversion-alloying composite yields promising value capacity at 500 mAhg-1 under C/10 rate for 500 cycles.

Where are sodium-ion batteries headed? An analysis of their future

2019 Fall National Meeting

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