An international team of scientists has conducted a literature review of recent advances and future prospects for key components of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).
SIBs store and release energy by shuttling sodium ions between the cathode and anode through an electrolyte during charging and discharging. They are considered an attractive alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because sodium is abundant and more evenly distributed geographically.
“The growing need for affordable and sustainable energy storage solutions across important end-use sectors, including automotive, industrial and energy storage, is contributing to the robust expansion of the global sodium-ion battery market,” corresponding author Ababay Ketema Worku told pv magazine.
“SIBs are still in their early stages, even though first-generation commercial devices from companies such as Contemporary Amperex Technology, Faradion and TIAMAT have already entered the energy storage market, targeting light-mobility and stationary applications,” he added. “Despite their long-term performance, economic and environmental benefits, SIB penetration remains low worldwide, and the market is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years.”
Among the factors limiting wider SIB adoption, Worku cited lower energy density and shorter cycle life compared with LIBs. These limitations are largely linked to sodium’s larger ionic radius, which places greater mechanical stress on electrode materials and can accelerate degradation.
Other challenges include higher self-discharge rates, underdeveloped supply chains for battery-grade materials, and inefficiencies in manufacturing processes, including slurry formulation, electrode drying and cell assembly.
“Although SIBs have better thermal stability and are compatible with existing LIB infrastructure, sophisticated management systems and predictive modeling methods, such as computational fluid dynamics, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, are needed to ensure pack-level safety,” Worku said.
The review examines five major classes of SIB anodes: alloy-based, intercalation-based, conversion-based, organic and MXene-based materials. The researchers found that carbon-based, alloy and organic anodes offer strong cycling stability and sodium-storage capacity, while conversion-type materials provide high theoretical capacities.
However, widespread adoption of these materials remains constrained by issues including large volume changes during cycling, poor electrical conductivity, unstable interfaces and structural degradation. These challenges are driving continued research into advanced material designs and nanostructuring.
The researchers concluded that future progress will depend on the development of more stable cathode and anode materials, safer and more conductive electrolytes, and separators with improved thermal and chemical stability. They also emphasized that advances across all battery components, including electrodes, electrolytes, binders, current collectors, conductive additives and solvents, will be essential to accelerate commercialization and make SIBs more competitive with LIBs.
“Currently, the energy densities of SIBs range from 100 Wh/kg to 160 Wh/kg, with some advanced prototypes approaching 200 Wh/kg,” Worku said. “Improved electrolyte formulations that boost ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability, as well as developments in electrode materials, are primarily responsible for these advances.”
Worku said energy storage is one of several areas in which SIBs are finding new applications.
“They are ideal for load balancing applications, electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy integration and large-scale energy storage, due to their low cost and utilization of readily available raw materials,” he said. “SIBs offer a scalable and affordable alternative for storing and delivering renewable energy, and pilot projects have demonstrated their promise for grid stability. Sodium-ion batteries are becoming more popular in the automotive industry as a more cost-effective substitute for lithium-ion batteries, especially for electric two- and three-wheelers.”
The review was presented “Recent advances and future perspectives on key components for sodium-ion batteries” has appeared in Energy Conversion and Management: X. Scientists from the University of South Africa, Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar University, and China’s Shanghai University have conducted the study.
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