Water-boosted sodium-ion battery might retailer vitality and desalinate seawater
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Oct 21, 2025
Scientists on the College of Surrey have found a easy but transformative option to improve sodium-ion battery efficiency – by preserving the water inside a key electrode materials moderately than eradicating it. The discovering not solely improves battery effectivity however might additionally allow electrochemical desalination, turning seawater into drinkable water.
Sodium-ion batteries are thought-about one of the promising sustainable options to lithium-ion expertise, which depends on costly and environmentally dangerous supplies. Sodium is plentiful and cheap, however reaching comparable efficiency has lengthy been a problem.
Of their new research, revealed within the Journal of Supplies Chemistry A, the Surrey workforce discovered {that a} frequent sodium-based compound – sodium vanadium oxide – performs much better when its pure water content material is preserved. The ensuing materials, referred to as nanostructured sodium vanadate hydrate (NVOH), saved practically twice the cost of typical sodium-ion supplies, charged extra shortly, and maintained stability over 400 cost cycles.
“Our outcomes have been utterly surprising,” stated Dr Daniel Commandeur, Analysis Fellow on the College of Surrey Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and lead writer of the research. “Sodium vanadium oxide has been round for years, and other people normally heat-treat it to take away the water as a result of it is thought to trigger issues. We determined to problem that assumption, and the end result was much better than we anticipated. The fabric confirmed a lot stronger efficiency and stability than anticipated and will even create thrilling new prospects for a way these batteries are used sooner or later.”
The researchers additionally demonstrated that NVOH can function effectively in salt water, the place it eliminated sodium ions whereas a graphite electrode concurrently extracted chloride ions – a course of referred to as electrochemical desalination.
“Having the ability to use sodium vanadate hydrate in salt water is a very thrilling discovery,” Dr Commandeur added. “It reveals sodium-ion batteries might do extra than simply retailer vitality – they might additionally assist take away salt from water. In the long run, which means we’d be capable to design techniques that use seawater as a totally secure, free and plentiful electrolyte, whereas additionally producing contemporary water as a part of the method.”
This advance might assist drive sodium-ion batteries towards large-scale, low-cost deployment, supporting the transition to greener vitality storage techniques. By simplifying manufacturing and eliminating reliance on lithium, the strategy presents a sustainable path for functions starting from renewable grid storage to electrical automobiles.
Analysis Report:Nanostructured sodium vanadate hydrate as a versatile sodium ion cathode material for use in organic media and for aqueous desalination
Associated Hyperlinks
University of Surrey
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Trending Merchandise
