Sodium-ion batteries have seen increased interest in recent years as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, there have been limited studies that examine their performance and safety characteristics. This study focuses on the characterization of the cycle life performance and safety aspects of commercial sodium-ion cells. Results of safety tests including overcharge, overdischarge, and external short tests, both at the cell and module-level, will be discussed. Information derived from the destructive physical analysis of cells will also be included. Insights gained from this research program will aid in the development of safer and more reliable sodium-ion based energy storage systems.

Hard carbon is a promising negative electrode material for sodium-ion batteries due to the ready availability of their precursors and high reversible charge storage. The reaction mechanisms that drive the sodiation properties in HC and subsequent electrochemical performance are strictly linked to the characteristic slope and plateau regions observed. The talk will focus on the use of electron paramagnetic resonance to gain further mechanistic insights into HCs.

The increased interest in sodium-ion batteries has led to an active effort in identifying a new generation of electrode materials.  In particular, pseudocapacitive materials have the attracted considerable attention because of the prospect of achieving high energy density at high rates of charge and discharge. This presentation reviews our recent findings involving crystalline and amorphous TiO2 and VO2 and their function as anodes and cathodes for sodium-ion batteries.

Improved safety compared to Lithium-ion battery systems is a key consideration for the development and adoption of Sodium-ion batteries, but risks of failure and potential consequences still exist in these systems. This talk will review key approaches to evaluating battery safety from a perspective of both thermal hazard analysis and vent gas characterization and address trade-offs between different chemistries.

- Performance of NVPF-HC sodium-ion cells for high-power applications demonstrating high-power output, reliable cycle life, and fast response times essential for backup power systems.

- NVPF-HC Cells: A new solution for the high-power battery market designed to meet the demanding requirements of UPS for AI Datacenter systems with improved safety and operational stability.

- TIAMAT industrial and product roadmap: progressing from pilot production to commercial scale, with a focus on delivering scalable, sustainable sodium-ion battery solutions.

With sodium (Na) being more abundant and affordable than lithium, Na-based batteries are emerging as a strong alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale storage. They offer lower material costs and a more stable supply chain, making them ideal for gigawatt-scale grid applications where cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a critical factor.

1. Low cost Na-ion batteries

2. Revisiting high temperature molten sodium batteries

3. Others

5:15 PM

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP Part 1: Pilot Scale-up Capabilities for Emerging Energy Storage Technologies That are Not Lithium-ion

Location: Salon A4

In-Person Only

This two-part workshop consists of two 1 ½ hour sessions, which are interactive group discussions, will be hosted by Argonne, Sandia, PNNL National Labs and Avicenne Energy at Cambridge EnerTech’s Solid-State and Sodium-ion Summit. Session 1 will be from 5:15-6:45pm on August 12 and session 2 will be from 4:00-5:30pm on August 13.

This team is preparing an analysis of existing piloting approaches, resource gaps and potential solutions for leading US developers of emerging non-Li-Ion energy storage technologies  as they transition from lab (TRL 3 - 4) to pilot scale (TRL 6 - 7).  The ultimate objective of the analysis is to establish a foundational understanding of how to best improve efficiencies across the scale-up ecosystem for a broad range of ES technologies, and to thereby ultimately improve US competitiveness by narrowing/closing these gaps.  

There is no additional costs to attend this workshop and your input can help to shape a path for a more rapid and efficient U.S. energy storage piloting future. Please join us.

Brief Project Background:
Energy storage is a key technology in an energy dominating USA.  Its robust innovation pipeline and deep expertise can continue to serve as an engine for U.S. economic growth  across many technologies - including Li-Ion,  Li-metal, Sodium, solid state, Zinc-chemistries, Flow Cells, Lead acid, etc..  Increasing US piloting resources would enhance the rate and efficiency of moving these technologies from the lab to mass manufacturing.  There is significant interest in developing an understanding of the design of an effective national network of battery manufacturing pilot facilities.  An initial study on Li-Ion pilot lines has been completed and this next study examines the needs for emerging technologies outside of Li-Ion.

Many factors are driving research forward for sodium-based (Na-ion) cell chemistries, and acceleration factors are sought to achieve timely market entry. Idaho National Laboratory developed the Advanced Electrolyte Model (AEM), which has seen extensive use toward discovery of electrolytes for Li-ion systems.  We showcase AEM for new Na-ion cell chemistries, drawing from several predicted molecular, thermodynamic, transport and other physical properties.  In some cases, Na-ion electrolytes show superior transport and desolvation behavior compared to their Li-ion counterparts, inspiring development of competitive Na-ion cells. Lab studies for new chemistries will be discussed. This work supported by Laboratory-directed Research and Development (LDRD).

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as an appealing candidate owing to the abundance and low cost of raw materials. In this talk, I will introduce our recent work at the Electrochemical Energy Materials Laboratory (EEML) related to the development of earth-abundant Mn-rich layered oxide positive electrode materials for SIBs. We hope to provide some perspectives regarding the promises and challenges in developing these materials.

Sodium-ion batteries offer a significant cost and sustainability advantage compared to lithium-ion batteries, but they are hampered by severe challenges with cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes and the interfaces associated with them. This presentation will focus on the intricacies involved with layered oxide and Prussian blue analogue cathodes and design of cathode morphology and electrolytes to overcome the challenges. Use of advanced characterization methodologies, such as time-of-flight–secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and in-situ gas evolution measurements, to delineate the intricacies will be presented.

Sodium electrolyte development has borrowed largely from our collective experience in Li-based electrolytes regarding choice of solvents and salts (i.e. counterions). Nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful method used by our group and others to characterize ion transport processes in lithium-based electrolytes. We present here some recent collaborative studies of Na-electrolytes, using 23Na and 19F NMR. In favorable cases, these measurements yield Na+ transference numbers and extent of ion pairing.

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) and sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are promising options in next-generation energy storage technology. For anode-free SMBs (AF-SMBs), where the cathode is the only ion reservoir, the challenge is to achieve stable electrodeposition/dissolution onto an "empty" current collector, rather than onto pre-existing sodium metal. Despite recent advances, the heterogeneous nature of the reactive growing/shrinking metal - electrolyte interphase remains not fully understood. This study examines how current collector support chemistry (sodiophilic intermetallic Na2Te vs. sodiophobic baseline Cu) and electrodeposition rate affect microstructure of sodium metal and its solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Capacity and current (6 mAh cm-2, 0.5-3 mA cm-2) representative of commercially relevant mass loading in anode-free sodium metal battery (AF-SMBs) are analyzed. Synchrotron X-ray nanotomography and grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) are combined with cryogenic focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) microscopy. Highlighted are major differences in film morphology, internal porosity, and crystallographic preferred orientation e.g. (110) vs. (100) and (211) with support and deposition rate. Within the SEI, sodium fluoride (NaF) is more prevalent with Te-Cu versus sodium hydride (NaH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with baseline Cu. Due to competitive grain growth the preferred orientation of sodium crystallites depends on film thickness. Mesoscale modelling delineates the role of SEI (ionic conductivity, morphology) on electrodeposit growth and onset of electrochemical instability.

This talk explores advanced characterization techniques for in situ and operando studies of sodium-ion, solid-state, and other energy storage devices. It highlights methods that allow real-time observation of materials and reactions during operation, providing insights into performance, stability, and mechanisms at the atomic and molecular levels.

This study examines Sn/Hard Carbon-based anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). While nanosized Sn suffers from instability due to severe volume expansion, micrometric Sn (µ-Sn) demonstrates enhanced stability, particularly in glyme-based electrolytes. Composite µ-Sn/HC electrodes exhibit enhanced stability and long cycle life due to the formation of a robust porous Sn network, which mitigates volume expansion and structural degradation, offering a promising pathway for high-performance SIB anodes.

We examine the technical gaps that still need to be addressed, particularly in energy density and cycle life, and evaluate the market conditions and cost structures that would enable SIBs to establish themselves in targeted segments such as stationary storage and entry-level mobility applications.

- Technology Benchmark position vs. LFP

- Cost Advantage and Supply Chain Implications

- Leading Market and Use Case Segments