SODIUM-ION
BATTERY - SCI & TECH
News: Start-up AR4 Tech, Sodion tie up to
make sodium ion battery packs
What's
in the news?
●
AR4 Tech, a start-up in Coimbatore, has
partnered Sodium Energy of Singapore to make sodium ion battery packs for
domestic and export markets.
Sodium-ion
Battery:
●
A sodium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery comparable to the
ubiquitous lithium-ion battery, but it uses sodium ions (Na+) as the charge
carriers rather than lithium ions (Li+).
Working:
●
Its working principle and cell construction
are almost identical with those of commercially widespread lithium-ion battery
types, but sodium compounds are used instead of lithium compounds.
Advantages:
●
The largest advantage of sodium-ion
batteries is the high natural abundance
of sodium.
●
Sodium ion batteries are lightweight compared to Li-ion
batteries.
●
Sodium falls short in terms of energy density, thus making it difficult to
make small batteries for use in electric vehicles.
Issues:
●
High
environmental cost by way of mining.
●
Needs a protective circuit to keep it running safely.
●
Expensive with reserves localized only in
certain parts of Chile, Australia, Argentina, and China.
●
Extremely
reactive.