this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2023
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The first EV with a lithium-free sodium battery hits the road in January (www.engadget.com)
submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Do you have more details about that?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I'm quite curious myself as to why it's more difficult. My chemistry knowledge is chem1 level so all I know is that sodium atoms are larger and the energy levels for state change are slightly different

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I left a very brief explanation as a reply to the other user.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Well, sure, but you're asking me about something I saw in passing half a decade ago. Basically, the main difficulties with Na Ion Batteries and especially the "Glass Batteries" were the lack of proper cathode with which to create current and also maintain the structure against the naturally occurring atomic reshuffling. In particular there was controversy over John B. Goodenough's research because other battery scientists noted the electrodes both ends contained anode materials which should theoretically produce no electrochemical potential and therefor no cell voltage.

More modern attempts appear to use Graphene structures, which is promising in a lot of different ways: structural stability, durability, current, and material availability.

BTW Rest in Peace John, your good deeds outweigh the bad: a true scientist worth remembering for all time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

So basically we didn't have a material that could function as a cathode until now?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'm not in the battery research field but I assume it's kind of like

We've got tons of puzzle pieces that we need to put together

and then we need to find an economically viable create more combined puzzle pieces at scale.