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.

• 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.