20 patents in this list

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Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion technology, offering abundant resources and cost-effective solutions. However, achieving high energy density and stable cycling remains a significant challenge. Sodium ions, being larger and heavier than lithium, can cause structural strain and slow diffusion in battery materials, affecting performance and longevity.

To address these challenges, researchers focus on developing advanced materials that can accommodate sodium ions more efficiently. The journey involves crafting unique anode and cathode compositions, optimizing electrolyte formulations, and balancing electrode mass ratios. These efforts aim to enhance ion diffusion, reduce capacity loss, and improve overall battery stability under various conditions.

This page compiles insights from recent research on sodium-ion battery innovations. You'll find discussions on nanorod structures, transition metal oxides, and crystalline porous carbon anodes, all designed to tackle the core issues of performance and reliability. These advancements promise to push the boundaries of sodium-ion battery technology, making it a viable option for future energy storage needs.

1. Nickel Cobalt Molybdenum Oxide Anode Material with Nanorod Structure Synthesized by One-Pot Hydrothermal Process

Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 2023

A nickel cobalt molybdenum oxide anode material for sodium-ion batteries that provides improved cycling and rate performance compared to existing materials. The material is synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal process using nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum precursors. The resulting nickel cobalt molybdenum oxide forms a single phase and nanorod shape. This unique structure enables better electrochemical behavior in sodium batteries. The anode material can be used in sodium-ion batteries along with a slurry preparation and coating method for the electrode.

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2. Sodium Ion Battery Positive Electrode Material with NaNix(Ni1-xMya)yPz Crystal Structure

NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO., LTD., 2022

Positive electrode active material for sodium ion batteries with high discharge capacity, particularly for all-solid-state batteries. The active material contains crystals with a specific composition of Na, Ni, M, P, and O elements. The crystals are NaNix(Ni1-xMya)yPz (x=0.6-4, y=0.3-2.7, a=0-0.9, z=6-7.5) where M is a transition metal like Fe, Cr, Mn, or Co. This composition prevents oxygen loss during charging and allows full Ni reduction during discharging. The crystals also form Na ion pathways when used in all-solid-state batteries.

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3. Sodium-Ion Battery with Low-Mass Disordered Carbon Anode and Optimized Electrolyte Formulation

FARADION LIMITED, 2022

Sodium-ion secondary batteries with improved capacity and cycling stability. The batteries have anode active material layers with mass per square meter of 30 g or less. This low anode mass compared to the cathode mass prevents Na plating issues during charging. The anode active material is disordered carbon. The low anode mass allows deeper sodiation, higher first discharge capacity, and better cycling compared to higher mass anodes. The batteries also have optimized electrolyte formulations and voltage ratings during formation to further enhance performance.

4. Sodium Composite Transition Metal Oxide with P3 Crystal Structure and Prismatic Sodium Ion Sites

LG Energy Solution, Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation, 2022

Sodium composite transition metal oxide with a unique crystal structure for high rate sodium-ion batteries. The material has a P3 structure with sodium ions located at specific prismatic sites. This allows the sodium ions to move more easily during charge/discharge compared to conventional materials. The P3 structure reduces repulsive forces between sodium and transition metal layers compared to other structures like P2. This improves rate capability for sodium-ion batteries. The P3 material is prepared by mixing sodium, lithium, and transition metal precursors in specific ratios, then heat treating.

5. Sodium Metal Vanadium Fluorophosphate Electrode Material with Iron Doping

UT Battelle, LLC, 2021

Positive electrode material for sodium-ion batteries with improved performance. The electrode contains a sodium metal vanadium fluorophosphate with the formula Na3V1.7Fe0.3O(PO4)2F2. This compound shows good sodium intercalation and cycling stability in sodium-ion batteries. It has higher capacity and lower resistance compared to other vanadium phosphates. The additional iron doping improves performance. The compound is made by combining sodium, vanadium, iron, fluorine, and phosphate in an aqueous solution and heating it.

6. Doped Sodium Lithium Transition Metal Oxide Cathode with Zirconium for Sodium Ion Batteries

KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 2021

Cathode material for sodium ion batteries with high capacity and improved cycle life. The material is a doped sodium lithium transition metal oxide. The dopant is zirconium (Zr) and the composition is Na1-x-yLiyMzOa, where M is a transition metal like Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, or Ru. The dopant level is 0.005 < w < 0.05. The other dopant level is 0.8 <= x <= 0.85, 0.09 <= y <= 0.11, 7 <= x/y <= 10, 0.7 <= z <= 0.95, and 1.95 <= a <= 2.05. The doping process involves electrochemically exchanging lith

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7. Spinel Oxide Anode Material Comprising Co2SnO4 for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 2020

Anode active material for sodium-ion batteries with improved capacity compared to existing materials. The anode uses a spinel oxide made from cobalt and tin. The spinel composition is Co2SnO4, represented by the chemical formula Co2SnO4. The spinel structure allows fast sodium ion diffusion for better cycling performance. The anode material is made by precipitating cobalt and tin precursors, filtering, drying, and heat treating.

8. Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode with NaVPO4F Crystalline Structure for Enhanced Ion Diffusion and Stability

The Regents of the University of California, 2020

Improved alternatives to lithium-ion batteries using sodium-ion intercalating crystalline active compounds like NaVPO4F in the cathode. The compounds have large cavities that accommodate sodium ions for reversible intercalation/deintercalation. They also have low migration barriers for fast sodium ion diffusion. The compounds like NaVPO4F provide higher voltages and better cycling stability compared to traditional sodium-ion batteries. The disclosure shows that carefully choosing the intercalating compound can overcome the challenges of lower sodium ion mobility versus lithium.

9. Sodium-Ion Battery with Hard Carbon-Lithium Anode and Ether Solvent Electrolyte

Battelle Memorial Institute, 2020

Sodium-ion batteries with improved performance using a specific anode composition and electrolyte. The anode contains hard carbon and lithium, and the electrolyte is an ether solvent with a sodium salt. This configuration provides higher capacity, better rate performance, and improved cycle life compared to conventional sodium-ion batteries. The lithium in the anode prelithiates the hard carbon, improving its sodium intercalation/deintercalation behavior. The ether electrolyte facilitates faster sodium ion transport compared to carbonate-based electrolytes.

10. Sodium-Ion Battery Positive Electrode Material Comprising Co and Transition Metal-Based Crystal Structures

NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO., LTD., 2020

High-voltage, high-capacity positive electrode material for sodium-ion batteries using crystals containing Co and transition metals like Fe, Cr, Ni, and Mn. The compositions are Na1-xCo1-aMxPy2Oz (6<=z<=7.5) where x, y, and a are within certain ranges. These compositions form sodium ion conducting paths with solid electrolytes, have stable crystal structures, and provide improved capacity retention during cycling compared to conventional sodium-ion battery cathodes.

11. Sodium-Rich Transition Metal Oxide Cathode with Elemental Substitution for Sodium-Ion Batteries

FOUNDATION CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE RESEARCH ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES CIC ENERGIGUNE FOUNDATION, 2020

Cathode material for sodium-ion batteries with improved capacity and cycle life compared to prior art materials. The cathode material is a sodium-rich transition metal oxide with the general formula Na_xMn_1-y-zM_zO_2 where M is a substituting element. The substitution of small amounts of transition metals like Fe, Ti, Zn, Cu, or Al into Mn-rich P2-type oxides enhances the capacity and stability of the cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. The substitution allows tuning of the oxidation state of Mn, which improves the capacity and cycling performance of the cathode material.

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12. Lithium and Sodium Batteries with Quasi-Solid Electrodes and Enhanced Active Material Loading

Nanotek Instruments, Inc., 2018

High energy density lithium and sodium batteries with thicker electrodes and higher active material loadings. The batteries have quasi-solid electrodes containing 30-95% active material, 5-40% electrolyte, and 0.01-30% conductive additive. The thick quasi-solid electrodes have electrical conductivity >10-6 S/cm. This allows higher loading of active material (>15 mg/cm2) compared to slurry coated electrodes. The thicker, more compact electrodes enable higher volumetric capacities and energy densities in batteries.

13. Secondary Sodium-Ion Battery with Balanced Electrode Mass Ratio and Controlled Charging Voltage

Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Faradion Limited, 2018

Secondary sodium-ion battery with optimized capacity and energy density by balancing the mass ratio of negative and positive electrode materials and controlling the charging voltage. The battery uses disordered carbon in the negative electrode and a nickel-containing sodium oxide in the positive electrode. The mass ratio of negative to positive electrode material is between 0.37 and 1.2 to prevent sodium plating on the negative electrode during cycling. The charging voltage is selected to keep the minimum voltage on the negative electrode above 0.01 V to prevent plating. This balancing and voltage control improves stability, capacity, and energy density compared to unbalanced ratios or extreme voltages.

14. Mixed Oxide Composition Na0.7Mn0.7Ni0.3Co0.05O2 for Sodium-Ion Batteries with Specific Elemental Ratios

TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, 2018

Mixed oxide composition for sodium-ion batteries with high cycling stability. The composition contains sodium, manganese, nickel, and cobalt in specific ratios. The mixed oxide has the formula Na0.7Mn0.7Ni0.3Co0.05O2. The composition can be synthesized by a two-step process involving precipitation of a precursor mixture followed by calcination. The composition provides superior cycling performance in sodium-ion batteries compared to other mixed oxides with fewer metals.

15. Composite Electrode Material with Sodium Phosphide for Reduced Irreversible Capacity in Sodium-Ion Batteries

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, 2018

A method to improve the performance of sodium-ion batteries by reducing irreversible capacity during the first charge cycle. The method involves mixing sodium phosphide (Na3P) with a sodium-insertion positive electrode material like sodium ferrite (Na2Fe2(SO4)3) or sodium vanadate (Na3V2(PO4)3) without heating or moisture. This produces a composite electrode material that contains Na3P intimately mixed with the positive electrode material. This composite reduces the amount of sodium lost during the first charge compared to using the positive material alone. The Na3P acts as a sacrificial source of sodium ions that compensates for the loss of sodium from the positive material during cycling.

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16. Sodium-Ion Battery with Crystalline Porous Carbon Anode Featuring Three-Dimensional Pore Network

Shuhei TAKESHITA, Naoto ABE, Yoshio ITOH, 2018

Sodium-ion battery with high capacity by using a porous carbon anode material with a three-dimensional network of pores that can insert and extract sodium ions. The porous carbon anode has crystallinity, which allows large amounts of sodium ion occlusion compared to amorphous carbon. This enables higher capacity compared to graphite anodes that collapse during sodium intercalation. The porous carbon anode with crystallinity provides a high capacity sodium-ion battery.

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17. Electrochemical Energy Storage Device with Anodes Comprising Intercalation and Capacitive Material Composite

AQUION ENERGY, INC., 2017

Electrochemical energy storage device with cells that can operate over a wider range of capacity variations without degradation compared to conventional cells. The cells have anodes with a composite of intercalation material (like NaTi2(PO4)3) and capacitive material (like activated carbon). During overcharge, hydrogen evolution occurs at the anode. The capacitive material adsorbs hydrogen instead of corroding, protecting the intercalation material. This self-regulation allows wider capacity variations without cell balancing.

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18. Sodium Ion Battery with Transition Metal Oxide Cathode and Balanced Anode for Enhanced Overcharge Resistance

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., 2017

Sodium ion battery with improved overcharge resistance to prevent sodium plating. The battery has a positive electrode containing a transition metal oxide like sodium chromite (NaCrO2) that reversibly intercalates sodium ions. The transition metal oxide has a low ratio of sodium to metal atoms (Na/MT) in the fully charged state to reduce irreversible capacity. This reduces the number of sodium ions deintercalated during overcharge compared to higher Na/MT oxides. Additionally, the negative electrode has a material like graphite that reversibly intercalates sodium ions plus an alloying material. This balances the negative capacity to the reduced positive irreversible capacity. The overall capacity ratio of negative vs positive reversible + irreversible capacities is kept above 1 to avoid excessive negative capacity expansion. This prevents sodium plating during overcharge.

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19. Composite Material Na1+(4-a)xTi2-(x)Mx(PO4)3/C for Sodium-Ion Battery Negative Electrodes

Industrial Technology Research Institute, 2016

A composite material for the negative electrode of sodium-ion batteries that improves cycle life compared to conventional sodium titanium phosphate. The composite has the formula Na1+(4-a)xTi2-(x)Mx(PO4)3/C, where M is an element with valence a and 0.1 <= x <= 0.4. The composite is used in the negative electrode with binder and conductive agent in a specific range to balance adhesion and conductivity. This composite provides better stability and capacity retention over cycling compared to pure sodium titanium phosphate.

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20. Sodium Secondary Battery with Amorphous Carbon Negative Electrode and Mixed Cation Molten Salt Electrolyte

SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., 2015

Sodium secondary battery with improved cycle life and high capacity by using amorphous carbon as the negative electrode active material and a molten salt electrolyte containing both sodium and organic cations. The amorphous carbon allows reversible sodium intercalation without sodium plating and dendrite growth. The molten salt electrolyte has better wettability of the carbon compared to aqueous electrolytes. The sodium and organic cations in the electrolyte facilitate sodium intercalation and extraction from the carbon.

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