Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have made significant strides in the development of a high-energy, high-power hybrid sodium-ion battery capable of rapid charging, led by Professor Jeung Ku Kang from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Sodium (Na), a resource over 500 times more abundant than lithium (Li), is emerging as a promising contender in the realm of battery technologies. With the potential to address the limitations of existing lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion battery research has been gaining traction. However, challenges such as slower charging times and constrained storage capabilities have impeded their widespread adoption.
This innovative approach integrates advanced anode materials commonly used in batteries with cathodes suited for supercapacitors. This hybridization enables the battery to combine high storage capacities with rapid charge-discharge rates, positioning it as a compelling alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
To achieve this feat, the researchers addressed two critical challenges: the slow energy storage rate of battery-type anodes and the relatively low capacity of supercapacitor-type cathode materials. By leveraging two distinct metal-organic frameworks, they optimized the synthesis process for hybrid batteries. This method led to the development of an anode material with enhanced kinetics and a high-capacity cathode material. The synergistic combination of these materials minimized the discrepancies in energy storage rates between the electrodes, resulting in a balanced and efficient sodium-ion storage system.
The assembled full cell, comprising the newly developed anode and cathode materials, represents a high-performance hybrid sodium-ion energy storage device. Surpassing the energy density of commercial lithium-ion batteries and exhibiting characteristics akin to supercapacitors’ power density, this device is primed for rapid charging applications across various sectors, including electric vehicles, smart electronics, and aerospace technologies.
According to Professor Kang, the hybrid sodium-ion energy storage device boasts a remarkable energy density of 247 Wh/kg and a power density of 34,748 W/kg, marking a significant breakthrough in overcoming the current limitations of energy storage systems. With broader applications envisioned across electronic devices, including electric vehicles, this innovation heralds a new era in battery technology.
The research, co-authored by KAIST doctoral candidates Jong Hui Choi and Dong Won Kim, was published in the international journal Energy Storage Materials on March 29 under the title “Low-crystallinity conductive multivalence iron sulfide-embedded S-doped anode and high-surface-area O-doped cathode of 3D porous N-rich graphitic carbon frameworks for high-performance sodium-ion hybrid energy storages.” Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea through the Nanomaterial Technology Development Project, this breakthrough underscores KAIST’s commitment to advancing energy storage technologies for a sustainable future.
Source
Low-crystallinity conductive multivalence iron sulfide-embedded S-doped anode and high-surface area O-doped cathode of 3D porous N-rich graphitic carbon frameworks for high-performance sodium-ion hybrid energy storages, Energy Storage Materials, 2024-04
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