Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro McGill University research is exploring the use of sodium to replace lithium in batteries, addressing stability challenges and leveraging machine learning to improve performance
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Lithium batteries are ubiquitous, found in everything from our smartphones to electric cars, due to their efficient energy storage capabilities. However, lithium is a limited resource, and the demand for it increases daily. What if there were a more abundant and sustainable alternative? Recently, a team from McGill University made an innovative discovery: replacing lithium with sodium in batteries. Using the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan, they have found a way to make this possible.
Sodium’s potential and challenges
Sodium could be an excellent substitute for lithium, but there’s a problem: the cathode material of sodium batteries becomes unstable when exposed to air. This presents a significant hurdle for factories currently producing lithium batteries. As explained by Eric McCalla, a chemistry professor at McGill University:
“The sodium reacts with carbon dioxide and water vapor in the air, forming sodium carbonate and other compounds. Water can enter the material and transform it into something entirely different, unsuitable for batteries.”
Experiments and advanced technology
To solve this issue, McCalla’s team tested the effect of 52 different elements on the stability of sodium batteries simultaneously. Thanks to the advanced technology at the CLS, they were able to observe in detail the behavior of the batteries after use, identifying elements that enhance sodium’s stability.
To analyze the complex data collected, the team used machine learning, a technology that enables the management of large amounts of intricate information. As McCalla explained:
“Machine learning can decipher the variables and create a complicated function that accounts for all the competing parameters. This allowed us to understand which materials truly affect battery performance.”
Progress and future challenges
Lithium batteries have been developed over more than 40 years and are very efficient. Using more sustainable materials is a significant goal, but the challenge is high. We have made progress and will continue to work on improving these materials.
Sodium batteries still have a long way to go before they can completely replace lithium batteries, especially in electric vehicles, but this field of research remains essential.
