In recent years, the cost of lithium-ion batteries has increased due to the shortage of lithium resources, limiting their application in large-scale energy storage devices. Therefore, sodium, which is abundant in raw materials and low in cost, has once again attracted the interest of scientists.
Table of Contents
Sodium ion battery has obvious advantages
■ Advantages of low cost and abundant resources
In terms of resources, sodium ion battery has a greater advantage than lithium ion batteries.
The structure and principle of sodium ion battery are similar to those of lithium batteries. Sodium ion battery mainly consists of two different sodium embedded materials (cathode materials and anode material), electrolyte, diaphragm and other key components. During charging, sodium ions are removed from the cathode material, passed through the electrolyte, diaphragm, and finally embedded in the negative material; meanwhile, electrons flow from the negative to the positive electrode via an external circuit. The discharging process is the opposite of the charging process. It can be seen that the working principle of sodium ion battery is basically similar to that of lithium ion battery.
■ Sodium ion batteries receive policy support
sodium ion battery has received strong policy support in recent years. sodium ion battery is an effective supplement to lithium batteries, and the technology has gradually matured in recent years, with industry chain companies gradually shipping small quantities. China has also started to promote the commercialization of sodium ion battery, gradually improving the details and making sodium ion battery technology a task to further promote the scale and low cost of sodium ion battery and improve the comprehensive performance.
■ The sodium ion battery industry chain is complete
Cathode: layered oxides have good overall performance and are becoming mainstream
The main cathode materials for sodium ion battery is transition metal oxides and so on. The cathode materials are to affect the battery energy density, cycle life, etc., and excellent sodium ion cathode material should have:
(1) low cost of raw materials, simple preparation process, to better exploit the advantages of low cost of sodium ion battery.
(2) with redox electricity, which is conducive to improving the energy density of sodium ion battery.
Anode: hard carbon is the most suitable, but the cost is higher
At present, sodium ion battery use more anode is hard carbon, soft carbon. As one of the core components of the sodium ion battery, the anode material affects the first coulombic efficiency, multiplier performance and cycle endurance characteristics of the battery. The most researched anode materials for sodium ion battery is carbon-based materials. At present, the anodes that can be used as sodium ion battery are: hard carbon, soft carbon, graphene, etc.
Electrolyte and aluminum foil: Electrolyte mostly uses NaPF6+ ester solvent, aluminum foil cost has advantages
Currently the most commonly used electrolyte solvent for sodium ion battery is ester electrolyte. As an important part of the battery, the electrolyte is the bridge connecting the positive and negative electrodes inside the sodium ion battery, which is the main factor affecting the safety of the battery, and also plays an important role in the energy density, cycle life and multiplier performance of the battery. The main components of ester electrolyte are: PC, EC, DEC, etc. The structure is relatively stable, resistant to oxidation and high safety.
Sodium-ion battery demand is expected to be 292GW
■ Sodium ion batteries gain attention
The energy revolution drives the expansion of renewable energy resources, and energy storage ushers in development opportunities. Energy storage is a key support technology for the energy revolution, and is urgently needed to address large-scale access to renewable energy, and to improve the efficiency, safety and economy of power systems and regional energy systems.
With the high price of lithium-ion, sodium ion battery has become a powerful alternative. With the popularization of electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage applications, lithium battery industry may face the problem of lithium resource scarcity. Sodium-ion batteries have become a hot spot for research in energy storage technology due to their abundant resources, low cost, high energy conversion efficiency, long cycle life, and low maintenance costs.
■ Sodium ion batteries may replace lithium ion batteries
Electrochemical energy storage is growing rapidly, with a cumulative installed capacity of 297GW by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 58%. In addition, some reports expect that by 2025, the cumulative installation of electrochemical energy storage may reach 40GW, and by 2030, the carbon peak target will be achieved, and the annual installed capacity of new energy generation will maintain an average annual growth of 100GW, and the annual installed capacity of electrochemical energy storage will remain at 12GW to 15GW, and it is expected that by 2030, the installed capacity of electrochemical energy storage will reach about 110GW. The installed capacity of electrochemical energy storage is expected to reach 52GW in 2025 and 297GW in 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 58%.
In addition, sodium ion battery can be widely used in electric two-wheelers and replace lead-acid batteries. The current electric two-wheelers are affected by the high price of lithium batteries, and the production has slowed down. Sodium ion battery, with the advantage of cost, can replace lithium batteries on the one hand, and can help the sales of electric two-wheelers through low cost on the other hand.
sodium ion battery is expected to replace lead-acid batteries. Due to the cheap price and high stability, lead-acid battery has been the main type of battery used in China’s two-wheeled electric vehicles, and the penetration rate of lead-acid battery reaches 90%. Compared with lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries have the advantages of low cost, high range and recyclability, but the heavy weight is also the disadvantage of lead-acid batteries. However, with the popularity of sodium ion battery, it is expected to replace the lead-acid battery.
Chinese companies have laid out sodium ion batteries-the industry chain gradually formed
■ CATL: Industrialization of sodium ion battery anodes in 2023
CATL is one of the top 10 lifepo4 battery installed capacity manufacturers in China, will release the first generation of sodium ion battery in 2021: firstly, in terms of energy density of single cell, the energy density of CATL’s sodium ion battery has reached 160 Wh/kg, which is the highest level among all sodium ion battery; it is expected that after continuous innovation, the energy density of the second generation of sodium ion battery will exceed 200 Wh/kg; secondly, due to the small internal resistance of sodium ion battery, the power of sodium ion battery can reach 80% within 15 minutes of charging at room temperature. Secondly, due to the low internal resistance of sodium ion battery, the power of sodium ion battery can reach 80% after 15 minutes of charging at room temperature; we are committed to promote the industrialization of sodium ion battery in 2023.
■ HUA YANG: Build a whole industry chain model
HUA YANG started to layout sodium ion battery in 2021, and has formed a full industrial chain. In the field of sodium ion battery, the company has laid out the production lines of positive and negative electrode, electric cell, battery pack, electrolyte and other segments, basically forming the whole industrial chain.
In 2021, sodium ion battery will continue to develop steadily: HUA YANG and Zhongkehai Sodium have started the trial production of the first sodium ion battery production line, which has laid a solid foundation for the high-quality development of sodium ion battery industry, and are expected to jointly expand the production line of 2,000 tons of sodium ion battery cathode and anode in 2023.
■ ZEC: Obvious advantage in cathode technology
ZEC focuses on the research and development of cathode materials, and is actively laying out the cathode materials for sodium ion battery to improve the specific capacity and reduce the internal resistance based on the inheritance of high safety and cycling stability. ZEC has a significant lead over its Chinese competitors in the same industry.
ZEC has already shipped sodium ion battery cathode and expanded its production capacity by 100,000 tons of cathode materials. As of the end of July 2022, the company shipped 4 tons + of sodium cathode and sent samples to customers totaling 0.6475 tons.
Sodium ion battery industry analysis
Sodium ion battery has obvious advantages
■ Advantages of low cost and abundant resources
In terms of resources, sodium ion battery has a greater advantage than lithium ion batteries.
The structure and principle of sodium ion battery are similar to those of lithium batteries. Sodium ion battery mainly consists of two different sodium embedded materials (cathode materials and anode material), electrolyte, diaphragm and other key components. During charging, sodium ions are removed from the cathode material, passed through the electrolyte, diaphragm, and finally embedded in the negative material; meanwhile, electrons flow from the negative to the positive electrode via an external circuit. The discharging process is the opposite of the charging process. It can be seen that the working principle of sodium ion battery is basically similar to that of lithium ion battery.
■ Sodium ion batteries receive policy support
sodium ion battery has received strong policy support in recent years. sodium ion battery is an effective supplement to lithium batteries, and the technology has gradually matured in recent years, with industry chain companies gradually shipping small quantities. China has also started to promote the commercialization of sodium ion battery, gradually improving the details and making sodium ion battery technology a task to further promote the scale and low cost of sodium ion battery and improve the comprehensive performance.
■ The sodium ion battery industry chain is complete
Cathode: layered oxides have good overall performance and are becoming mainstream
The main cathode materials for sodium ion battery is transition metal oxides and so on. The cathode materials are to affect the battery energy density, cycle life, etc., and excellent sodium ion cathode material should have:
(1) low cost of raw materials, simple preparation process, to better exploit the advantages of low cost of sodium ion battery.
(2) with redox electricity, which is conducive to improving the energy density of sodium ion battery.
Anode: hard carbon is the most suitable, but the cost is higher
At present, sodium ion battery use more anode is hard carbon, soft carbon. As one of the core components of the sodium ion battery, the anode material affects the first coulombic efficiency, multiplier performance and cycle endurance characteristics of the battery. The most researched anode materials for sodium ion battery is carbon-based materials. At present, the anodes that can be used as sodium ion battery are: hard carbon, soft carbon, graphene, etc.
Electrolyte and aluminum foil: Electrolyte mostly uses NaPF6+ ester solvent, aluminum foil cost has advantages
Currently the most commonly used electrolyte solvent for sodium ion battery is ester electrolyte. As an important part of the battery, the electrolyte is the bridge connecting the positive and negative electrodes inside the sodium ion battery, which is the main factor affecting the safety of the battery, and also plays an important role in the energy density, cycle life and multiplier performance of the battery. The main components of ester electrolyte are: PC, EC, DEC, etc. The structure is relatively stable, resistant to oxidation and high safety.
Sodium-ion battery demand is expected to be 292GW
■ Sodium ion batteries gain attention
The energy revolution drives the expansion of renewable energy resources, and energy storage ushers in development opportunities. Energy storage is a key support technology for the energy revolution, and is urgently needed to address large-scale access to renewable energy, and to improve the efficiency, safety and economy of power systems and regional energy systems.
With the high price of lithium-ion, sodium ion battery has become a powerful alternative. With the popularization of electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage applications, lithium battery industry may face the problem of lithium resource scarcity. Sodium-ion batteries have become a hot spot for research in energy storage technology due to their abundant resources, low cost, high energy conversion efficiency, long cycle life, and low maintenance costs.
■ Sodium ion batteries may replace lithium ion batteries
Electrochemical energy storage is growing rapidly, with a cumulative installed capacity of 297GW by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 58%. In addition, some reports expect that by 2025, the cumulative installation of electrochemical energy storage may reach 40GW, and by 2030, the carbon peak target will be achieved, and the annual installed capacity of new energy generation will maintain an average annual growth of 100GW, and the annual installed capacity of electrochemical energy storage will remain at 12GW to 15GW, and it is expected that by 2030, the installed capacity of electrochemical energy storage will reach about 110GW. The installed capacity of electrochemical energy storage is expected to reach 52GW in 2025 and 297GW in 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 58%.
In addition, sodium ion battery can be widely used in electric two-wheelers and replace lead-acid batteries. The current electric two-wheelers are affected by the high price of lithium batteries, and the production has slowed down. Sodium ion battery, with the advantage of cost, can replace lithium batteries on the one hand, and can help the sales of electric two-wheelers through low cost on the other hand.
sodium ion battery is expected to replace lead-acid batteries. Due to the cheap price and high stability, lead-acid battery has been the main type of battery used in China’s two-wheeled electric vehicles, and the penetration rate of lead-acid battery reaches 90%. Compared with lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries have the advantages of low cost, high range and recyclability, but the heavy weight is also the disadvantage of lead-acid batteries. However, with the popularity of sodium ion battery, it is expected to replace the lead-acid battery.
Chinese companies have laid out sodium ion batteries-the industry chain gradually formed
■ CATL: Industrialization of sodium ion battery anodes in 2023
CATL is one of the top 10 lifepo4 battery installed capacity manufacturers in China, will release the first generation of sodium ion battery in 2021: firstly, in terms of energy density of single cell, the energy density of CATL’s sodium ion battery has reached 160 Wh/kg, which is the highest level among all sodium ion battery; it is expected that after continuous innovation, the energy density of the second generation of sodium ion battery will exceed 200 Wh/kg; secondly, due to the small internal resistance of sodium ion battery, the power of sodium ion battery can reach 80% within 15 minutes of charging at room temperature. Secondly, due to the low internal resistance of sodium ion battery, the power of sodium ion battery can reach 80% after 15 minutes of charging at room temperature; we are committed to promote the industrialization of sodium ion battery in 2023.
■ HUA YANG: Build a whole industry chain model
HUA YANG started to layout sodium ion battery in 2021, and has formed a full industrial chain. In the field of sodium ion battery, the company has laid out the production lines of positive and negative electrode, electric cell, battery pack, electrolyte and other segments, basically forming the whole industrial chain.
In 2021, sodium ion battery will continue to develop steadily: HUA YANG and Zhongkehai Sodium have started the trial production of the first sodium ion battery production line, which has laid a solid foundation for the high-quality development of sodium ion battery industry, and are expected to jointly expand the production line of 2,000 tons of sodium ion battery cathode and anode in 2023.
■ ZEC: Obvious advantage in cathode technology
ZEC focuses on the research and development of cathode materials, and is actively laying out the cathode materials for sodium ion battery to improve the specific capacity and reduce the internal resistance based on the inheritance of high safety and cycling stability. ZEC has a significant lead over its Chinese competitors in the same industry.
ZEC has already shipped sodium ion battery cathode and expanded its production capacity by 100,000 tons of cathode materials. As of the end of July 2022, the company shipped 4 tons + of sodium cathode and sent samples to customers totaling 0.6475 tons.
For more related articles, see carbon coated aluminum foil, top 10 sodium ion battery companies in the world, top 10 battery aluminum foil manufacturers in China.