Despite their superior performance in various aspects compared to other rechargeable batteries, LIBs come with certain drawbacks. Lithium is a limited resource, and its diminishing availability is expected to drive up prices. Additionally, the extraction of lithium and improper disposal of LIBs present significant environmental challenges, as the liquid electrolytes commonly used in them are toxic and flammable.
The limitations of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have spurred global research efforts to explore alternative energy storage technologies. Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have emerged as promising alternatives, offering cost-effective and sustainable solutions. Both NIBs and KIBs are anticipated to become billion-dollar industries by the end of the decade.
Governments worldwide, including the US, Austria, Hong Kong, Germany, and Australia, are actively supporting research and innovation in this field. Notable companies such as Faradion Limited, TIAMAT SAS, and HiNa Battery Technology Co. Ltd. are making substantial investments in these technologies. Electric vehicle battery packs featuring NIBs are expected to be introduced by companies like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited and build your dreams shortly.
Despite the promise of NIBs and KIBs, the electrode materials’ capacity in these systems still lags behind that of LIBs. Addressing this challenge, a research team led by Professor Shinichi Komaba from Tokyo University Science (TUS), Japan, has been actively working on developing groundbreaking high-capacity electrode materials for NIBs and KIBs.
Their latest study, published in Advanced Energy Materials on November 9th, 2023, introduces a novel synthesis strategy for nanostructured ‘hard carbon’ (HC) electrodes that exhibit unprecedented performance. The co-authors of the study include Mr. Daisuke Igarashi, Ms Yoko Tanaka, and Junior Associate Professor Ryoichi Tatara from TUS, as well as Dr Kei Kubota from the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan.
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