Chemical element could help US wean itself off Chinese batteries

DNVN - Using sodium instead of lithium in battery production opens up opportunities for the US and its allies to establish a new supply chain in the global energy storage sector.

As trade tensions between the US and China escalate, the two countries are entering a dangerous competition in the field of battery technology, according to the Wall Street Journal on December 21. A potential solution could come from sodium - a familiar element found in everyday table salt.

Instead of the traditional lithium-ion battery applications that are ubiquitous in mobile devices and the power grid, the new technology that uses sodium through soda ash compounds (which include sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate with high alkalinity) could help the US end China's dominance in battery manufacturing.

Unlike lithium, sodium can be easily mined anywhere. Notably, the US owns 92% of the world's soda ash reserves, making the country the "Saudi Arabia" of this raw material industry.

After two unsuccessful attempts to develop a battery industry, researchers and businesses in the US are hoping for more from the third attempt, thanks to effective coordination with policymakers and incentives from the government .

To support the research, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $50 million to a consortium of six national laboratories and eight universities. Sodium-ion batteries offer advantages in durability and safety over lithium-ion batteries, but they have the disadvantages of being large and heavy.

Size and weight limitations are not as big of an issue for applications like solar and wind energy storage, experts say, while scientists are developing more compact sodium-ion batteries that are suitable for electric vehicles, with the ability to operate at a wider range of temperatures and at lower costs.

Dr. Venkat Srinivasan, director of research at Argonne National Laboratory, emphasized that the development of sodium-ion batteries is important to national security. He noted that the current lithium-ion battery supply chain is almost entirely dependent on China, which controls the mineral refining and battery manufacturing.

Currently, the US company Peak Energy is at the forefront of deploying sodium-ion battery technology. The company's CEO, Landon Mossburg, said they have signed a contract to build a pilot facility for utilities by 2025. Although currently importing batteries from China, Peak Energy is learning the technology with the aim of becoming self-sufficient in US production.

To compete with lithium-ion batteries (LFP) in the electric vehicle sector, researchers are focusing on two main tasks: reducing dependence on nickel, a material controlled by China, and improving the capacity of storing electricity. With continuous progress, more compact sodium-ion batteries that still ensure high performance are completely achievable in the future.

Thanh Mai (t/h)

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/nguyen-to-hoa-hoc-co-the-giup-my-thoat-khoi-su-phu-thuoc-vao-pin-tu-trung-quoc/20241223091646756