Abstract
Sodium rechargeable batteries can be excellent alternatives to replace lithium rechargeable ones because of the high abundance and low cost of sodium; however, there is a need to further improve the battery performance, cost-effectiveness, and safety for practical use. Here we demonstrate a new type of room-temperature and high-energy density sodium rechargeable battery using an SO2-based inorganic molten complex catholyte, which showed a discharge capacity of 153 mAh g−1 based on the mass of catholyte and carbon electrode with an operating voltage of 3 V, good rate capability and excellent cycle performance over 300 cycles. In particular, non-flammability and intrinsic self-regeneration mechanism of the inorganic liquid electrolyte presented here can accelerate the realization of commercialized Na rechargeable battery system with outstanding reliability. Given that high performance and unique properties of Na–SO2 rechargeable battery, it can be another promising candidate for next generation energy storage system.
Highlights
Sodium rechargeable batteries can be excellent alternatives to replace lithium rechargeable ones because of the high abundance and low cost of sodium; there is a need to further improve the battery performance, cost-effectiveness, and safety for practical use
The carbon cathode was prepared by roll-pressing of ketjenblack/polytetrafluoroethylene paste on a Ni-mesh, and NaAlCl4⋅ 2SO2 was synthesized by blowing SO2 gas through a mixture of NaCl and AlCl3 powders
We firmly believe that these key battery performances of the Na–SO2 system are much more promising compared with other Na rechargeable batteries ever reported
Summary
Sodium rechargeable batteries can be excellent alternatives to replace lithium rechargeable ones because of the high abundance and low cost of sodium; there is a need to further improve the battery performance, cost-effectiveness, and safety for practical use. NaAlCl4⋅ 2SO2, known as a stable composition under ambient conditions[22], exhibits the equilibrium vapor pressure of ~1 bar and remains as a liquid phase up to –40 °C without freezing, alleviating our safety concerns regarding cell venting that was a critical issue in the past Li–SO2 battery[17,21,22]. These physicochemical properties of NaAlCl4⋅ 2SO2 motivated us to study and develop a Na–SO2 battery system, for low-cost stationary power storage applications. Non-flammability, low vapor pressure, and unique self-regeneration mechanism of the inorganic electrolyte presented here would be noteworthy merits of Na–SO2 system over other Na rechargeable battery systems
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