A quick and easy way to produce anode materials for sodium-ion batteries using microwaves

A analysis group has developed a course of know-how that permits ultrafast, 30-second preparation of onerous carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries utilizing microwave induction heating.

One of many next-generation secondary batteries, the sodium-ion battery makes use of sodium (Na) in lieu of the present mainstay, lithium (Li). Sodium, the primary part of salt, is greater than a thousand occasions extra plentiful than lithium and is less complicated to extract and refine. Moreover, its decrease reactivity in comparison with lithium means larger electrochemical stability when used for batteries, making it extra favorable for quick charging and discharging, whereas sustaining efficiency even at low temperatures.

Regardless of these benefits, sodium-ion batteries face important challenges, together with decrease power density and shorter lifespan in comparison with lithium-ion batteries as a result of complexity of the manufacturing course of. The bigger measurement of sodium ions in comparison with lithium necessitates using onerous carbon, which has a bigger interlayer spacing than graphite, the present mainstay of anode supplies.

Laborious carbon isn’t present in nature and subsequently have to be synthesized. The preparation course of is very intricate, requiring hydrocarbon supplies—fundamental parts of crops and polymers—to be heated in an oxygen-free atmosphere at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C for prolonged intervals. This “carbonization” course of is each economically and environmentally burdensome, which has been a key impediment to the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.

Among the many many groups making an attempt to deal with this problem, the group led by Dr. Kim and Dr. Park proposed a fast heating technique utilizing microwave technologywhich we are able to simply discover from a microwave oven within the kitchen. They first created movies by mixing polymers with a small quantity of extremely conductive carbon nanotubes. They then utilized a microwave magnetic field to the movies to induce currents within the carbon nanotubes, selectively heating the movies to over 1,400°C in simply 30 seconds.

By way of years of analysis, KERI has developed a know-how to uniformly heat-treat conductive skinny movies, reminiscent of metals, utilizing microwave magnetic fields. This know-how has attracted appreciable consideration in industrial processes reminiscent of shows and semiconductors. KERI’s Nano Hybrid Know-how Analysis Middle is acknowledged because the nation’s main middle for carbon nanomaterials know-how. Dr. Kim and Dr. Park leveraged the middle’s capabilities to enterprise into sodium-ion battery anode supplies and achieved promising outcomes.

The important thing to their success lies within the group’s personal “multiphysics simulation” approach. It allowed them to have a profound understanding of the advanced processes occurring when an electromagnetic field within the microwave bandwidth is utilized to nanomaterials, resulting in the creation of a novel course of for getting ready sodium-ion battery anode supplies.

The examine is published within the Chemical Engineering Journal. The paper was co-first-authored by Geongbeom Ryoo and Jiwon Shin, scholar researchers who participated in KERI’s academia-research collaborative analysis program.

“Due to recent electric vehicle fires, there has been growing interest in sodium-ion batteries that are safer and function well in colder conditions. However, the carbonization process for anodes has been a significant disadvantage in terms of energy efficiency and cost,” stated Dr. Jong Hwan Park. Dr. Daeho Kim added, “Our microwave induction heating technology enables fast and easy preparation of hard carbon, which I believe will contribute to the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.”

Transferring ahead, the group plans to proceed working to enhance the efficiency of their anode supplies and develop know-how for the continual mass manufacturing of large-area onerous carbon movies. Additionally they see the potential of their microwave induction heating know-how relevant to different fields, reminiscent of all-solid-state batteries that require high-temperature sintering, which warrants additional analysis.

KERI, having already accomplished a home patent utility, expects this know-how to draw important curiosity from firms concerned in power storage supplies and anticipates know-how switch offers with potential trade companions.

The group was led by Dr. Daeho Kim and Dr. Jong Hwan Park on the Nano Hybrid Know-how Analysis Middle of the Korea Electrotechnology Analysis Institute (KERI).