WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA — Scientists have found a way to successfully synthesize sodium as a viable replacement for lithium-ion in batteries.<br /><br />As the rare lithium used in most batteries is fast becoming scarce, scientists are looking into sodium, which is more abundant, and can service large power facilities at a lower cost, according to a Purdue University report.<br /><br />The problem with sodium is that it explodes when exposed to water. Sodium ions in a battery also tend to stick to the anode, building up into a solid electrolyte interface that can grow too large and hamper charging ability.<br /><br />To make sodium functional, Purdue University scientists used ultrasonic dispersion to melt it into a purple liquid. Once cooled into a powder, it is suspended in hexane for even particle distribution.<br /><br />A few drops of the suspension liquid on cathode or anode electrodes allows a sodium-ion battery to function with more stability, and at a higher capacity.<br /><br />According to Purdue assistant professor of chemical engineering Vilas Pol, adding in the sodium requires only minimal modifications to the battery production process, making it both promising and practical.
