Sodium-ion cells are in the very early stages of mass production, with the first commercial systems being available for purchase in 2023. Some typical characteristics of sodium-ion cells include:
- An energy density of 100 to 160 Wh/kg and 290Wh/L at cell level.
- A voltage range of 1.5 to 4.3V. Note that cells can be discharged down to 0V and shipped at 0V, increasing safety during shipping.
- 20-30% lower cell BOM cost than LFP.
- A wider operating temperature than lithium-ion cells (-20°C to +60°C).
- Typical Energy efficiency 92% at C/5.
The table below provides an overview of some of the companies working around Sodium-ion battery production, and details of their chosen cell designs:
Note that a number of cell specifications are now quoting operation down to -40°C.
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Sodium-Ion battery
Sodium-ion batteries operate analogously to lithium-ion batteries, with both chemistries relying on the intercalation of ions between host structures. In addition, sodium based cell construction is almost identical with those of the commercially widespread lithium-ion battery types. However, sodium-ion batteries are characterised by several fundamental differences with lithium-ion, bringing both advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
- Environmental abundance: Sodium is over 1000 times more abundant than lithium and more evenly distributed worldwide.
- Safety: Sodium-ion cells can be discharged to 0V for transport, avoiding thermal run-away hazards which have plagued lithium-ion batteries.
- Low cost: Sodium precursors (such as Na2CO3) are far cheaper than the equivalent lithium compounds.
- Three major families of materials for cathode chemistry options:
- layered transition metal oxides
- polyanionic compounds
- prussian blue analogs
- Cathode materials can be synthesized from more sustainable transition metals such as Fe, Cu or Mn.
Disadvantages:
- Sodium-ion cells have lower energy densities than lithium-ion. This is due to sodium being significantly heavier and larger than lithium, as well as Na+/Na having a higher reduction potential than Li+/Li.
- Sodium-ion technology is not as well established as lithium-ion.
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