Lithium-ion batteries have changed the way we charge our devices. However, due to the problem of dendrites (spiky lithium structures that develop on the anode when charging) that can pose a severe safety threat by short-circuiting the battery, scientists have been working towards making even more powerful variants.
Scientists and engineers have been working on sodium batteries for about a decade in an attempt to eliminate the dendrite problem by replacing both the lithium and cobalt used in conventional lithium-ion batteries with cheaper, more environmentally friendly sodium. However, a recent breakthrough suggests they may have found the solution.
Recently, a team of University of Texas researchers, with support from the National Science Foundation, have developed a stable sodium-based battery material.
This novel technology avoids dendrite formation and can recharge as quickly as a regular lithium-ion battery, but it has the potential to provide better energy output than lithium-ion batteries.
