August 03, 2022, West Bengal, India: A team of researchers from IIT Kharagpur led by Prof. Amreesh Chandra, Department of Physics have used nano-materials to develop Na-ion-based batteries and supercapacitors for next-generation Na-ion based energy storage technologies and their use in e-vehicles. The low-cost Na-ion-based technologies can be charged rapidly and are expected to reduce the cost of the e-cycles significantly. Under the ‘Materials for Energy Storage Program’ and support from Technology Mission Division (TMD) of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, the team has used sodium iron phosphates and sodium manganese phosphates which they synthesized to obtain Na-ion-based batteries and supercapacitors. Prof. Amreesh Chandra, Department of Physics, IIT Kharagpur have researched rigorously to develop energy storage technologies, which are based on Na-ion. His team has also developed a large number of nanomaterials which can be rapidly charged and then integrated them in e-cycles.
Prof. Amreesh Chandra, Department of Physics, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “Sodium ion batteries and supercapacitors can now compete with their illustrious counterparts i.e. Li-ion based energy storage devices. Combination of novel nanostructures of Na-based oxides and carbon leads to high energy and power density devices. These energy storage devices can be used easily in electric vehicles and many other applications and will eliminate our dependence on imported lithium, which is found only in a selected few countries of the world.”
The sodium materials are cheaper than Li-based materials, high performing, and can be scaled up to industrial-level production. The Na-ion cell can also be totally discharged to zero volt, similar to a capacitor, making it a safer option in comparison to many other storage technologies.
Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur stated, “Taking advantage of the fact that Na-ion batteries can be charged rapidly, Dr. Amreesh has integrated it in e-cycles which is an easy, affordable option for the masses. With further development, the price of these vehicles can be brought down to the range of Rs. 10-15 K making them nearly 25% affordable than Li-ion storage technologies based e-cycles. As disposal strategies of Na-ion-based batteries would be simpler, it can also help in addressing the climate mitigation issue.
The research on the Supercapacitors was published in the Journal of Power Sources, and a few patents are in the pipeline on the use of these Na-ion-based batteries in e-cycles. A typical prototype of an e-cycle, where the Na-ion based energy storage systems are being integrated, is shown in the picture below.
Leave a Reply