Sodium-ion batteries for transport: from materials to cell performance

Research Project, 2027 – 2028

This project focuses on the rapidly developing sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology. SIBs are interesting for the transport sector not only for their potential to reach a lower environmental footprint than lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but also for their higher power capability. The system is considered a drop-in technology to LIBs. However, it is not fully mature. The rapid development is utilising similarities and differences between the two technologies. In this project, SIB cells will be characterised for performance and production maturity. Selected cells will be CT-scanned, and a teardown analysis will be conducted to evaluate production quality, safety, and design considerations. The cells will be tested for performance, and the electrodes harvested for electrochemical testing on a material level. The in-situ current-voltage relationship at the cell and material levels will provide a deeper understanding of SIBs and their electrode materials. Additionally, a newly developed approach for modelling cell inhomogeneity of LIBs, as an early lifetime indicator, will be tested on the SIBs. Based on this, the project aims to assess SIBs suitability for various transport applications.