Search

CATL new patent allows anode-free sodium-ion battery density to go above 200Wh/Kg

2 min to read
Jan 13, 2022 2:28 PM CET

In July 2021, CATL developed its first-gen sodium-ion battery. Its single-cell energy density can reach 160Wh/Kg. It has an impressive fast charging capability, allowing it to get 80% charge just after charging for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Today CATL applied for a patent for anode-free metal battery technology, which Tesla’s Chinese battery supplier would use in the next generation of sodium-ion batteries.

Why sodium

For a better understanding, let’s see why sodium ion is in the center of attention for CATL and competing with lithium-ion batteries.

  • The supply of sodium salt raw materials is plentiful, and the price is low. The iron-manganese-nickel-based cathode material is utilised instead of lithium-ion battery material, and the raw material cost is cut in half.
  • Because of the properties of sodium salt, it is possible to utilise a low-concentration electrolyte to save money.
  • Because sodium-ions don’t really form an alloy with aluminium, aluminium foil may be utilised as the negative electrode’s current collector, lowering the cost by around 8% and reducing the weight by about 10%.

Limitations of Sodium Ion

Sodium ions have a more significant volume and higher requirements for materials’ structural stability and kinetic characteristics than lithium ions.

Because sodium is three times heavier than lithium, sodium-ion batteries are likewise heavier, despite lithium accounting for less than 5% of a battery’s overall weight.

Because of the 0.3-volt lower cell voltage, sodium batteries lose roughly 10% of their energy density, making them less potent. This is partly because previous graphite anodes used in batteries absorbed far too little sodium.

The industrialization of sodium-ion batteries has hit a snag because of this.

CATLs New Patent

For many years CATL has been spending a lot in its R&D to overcome these limitations. CATL has created a hard carbon material with a unique porous structure that allows extensive sodium-ion storage and rapid transport.

Implementing this technique will allow the battery energy density to be significantly enhanced from its natural state, with the next-generation sodium-ion battery’s energy density exceeding 200Wh/kg.

Source: Yiche, CATL

CATL
sodium-ion
Recommended for you
Avatr 06 electric sedan from Changan caught fire in China with 1,000 km mileage
Avatr 06 electric sedan from Changan caught fire in China with 1,000 km mileage
catl-building-1200×675
China state-owned media: Concerns about CATL’s Spain battery plant lock-in are “completely unwarranted”
Experts: sodium-ion batteries to enter large-scale applications by 2026 as costs fall
Follow us for ev updates
Comments