Next-Gen Sodium Batteries Rival Lithium-Ion Tech

A team of innovative engineers from the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering just unveiled a new solid-state sodium battery enhancement that improves performance and stability. The study¹ represents a monumental leap forward in the technology, which many predict will supplement the already active Lithium-ion demand. Here’s what you need to know.

Liquid vs Solid State Batteries

Engineers continue to develop more advanced battery designs, seeking to provide more energy density and stability. Currently, Lithium-ion batteries are the industry standard. These power sources utilize a lithium-ion-based electrolyte. It’s common to find these batteries in everyday devices like your smartphone, EV, or personal computer.

This design has been effective but has many drawbacks. For one, Lithium-ion electrolyte is volatile and thermally reactive. These batteries rely on cells that can overheat, catch fire, or explode. Additionally, their design utilizes tightly packed cells, which means that if one heats up, the surrounding ones are likely to follow suit, leading to a phenomenon known as thermal runaway.

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All-Solid-State Batteries (ASSBs)

Solid-state Li-ion batteries replace the liquid electrolyte with solid material, including LiPON, Thio-LISICON, LATP, and other materials. This structure brings significant advantages including better thermal stability, Li-ion transport, and energy density.

Additionally, solid-state batteries can be made smaller and lighter, making them ideal for advanced technology like drones and robotics. Keenly, these batteries can charge faster and provide longer life cycles than their predecessors. However, lithium-ion-based solid-state batteries have several issues as well.

Drawbacks of Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries

One major concern with Li-ion designs is that they still utilize flammable components that, under certain conditions, can react violently to oxygen. A battery exploding on a scooter is tragic, but one catching fire on a battery-powered aircraft in the future would be catastrophic.

Additionally, while lithium is not a rare earth (it’s an alkali metal), its supply chain is concentrated, and refining capacity is limited. These bottlenecks, along with extraction costs and permitting timelines, keep prices volatile and supply tight.

Sodium Alternatives

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The issues above have led engineers to research and find Li-ion alternatives. One option that has gained momentum is sodium. Sodium chemistries—especially with nonflammable solid electrolytes—significantly lower thermal-runaway risk compared with conventional Li-ion, improving overall safety. Additionally, sodium is not rare. Its abundance means lower costs and more sourcing options.

Sodium batteries charge faster than Li-ion options and provide excellent cold-temperature performance. Also, sodium is safer for the environment than Li-ion battery electrolyte, which can leak into the earth from landfills and other e-waste. Sadly, the level of e-waste, discarded electronics, continues to rise, with reports predicting 60 million metric tons will enter landfills in 2025 alone.

Problems with Sodium Batteries Today

Despite their advantages, these batteries have several restrictions limiting their adoption. For one, they have low energy density, meaning that they need to be bulkier and heavier than Li-ion options. Also, their performance at room temperature lags far behind Li-ion options. Recognizing these limitations, a team of engineers has come together to demonstrate an enhanced sodium battery design that eliminates these issues, providing power on par with Li-ion options.

Sodium Battery Enhancements Study

The study, Metastable sodium closo-hydridoborates for all-solid-state batteries with thick cathodes, published in Joule, introduces a novel method to create a solid-state sodium battery that can provide comparable performance to top-end Li-ion options at a variety of temperatures.
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Sodium Hydridoborate

The team researched sodium options before determining that Sodium Hydridoborate would provide the ability to create a metastable structure that can support high ionic conductivity. They began by gathering and then testing computational and experimental data to ensure metastability of a sodium hydridoborate across the different circumstances.

The engineers utilized a popular method to heat a metastable form of sodium hydridoborate, converting it into a crystal form. As part of this approach, which was never used in solid-state battery technology prior to the study, the crystal must be cooled quickly after it forms to ensure its stability. Specifically, this strategy kinetically locks the orthorhombic phase with fast Na+ mobility.

O3-Type Cathode

One of the main reasons why Sodium Hydridoborate was chosen was that it enabled the use of thick cathodes. By enlarging the cathode, the battery was able to maintain peak performance. It accomplishes this task by eliminating inactive material, improving energy density. Notably, the cathode was coated with a chloride-based solid electrolyte, providing additional stability.

Testing the Sodium Battery Enhancement

The team conducted several tests and dynamic simulations to demonstrate their theory. They determined that key factors like the propensity for anion motion were a crucial component of the highly mobile Na+. Also, they documented how the process provided high conductivity across a wide temperature range.

Results of the Sodium Battery Enhancement Tests

The engineers’ test results revealed some vital details about their batteries’ capabilities. For one, it demonstrated how a kinetically stable orthorhombic Na3(B12H12)(BH4) phase offers conductivity in line with Li-ion options. It also showed how thick, high-areal-loading composite cathodes are capable of operating smoothly in subzero temperatures.

Sodium Battery Enhancements Study Benefits

There are many benefits that this study brings to the market. For one, it deepens scientists’ understanding of hydridoborate-based solid electrolytes, opening the door for further innovation. Notably, the team utilized established techniques and practical design strategies, which makes their work highly applicable to the market in its current state.

The sodium batteries offer high ionic conductivity, durability, and stability. They aren’t flammable and won’t explode if ruptured like their Li-ion predecessors. Additionally, the new design shrinks the weight and size of these batteries, putting their energy density in line with established options.

Abundance

Sodium is much easier to obtain than lithium. The material is abundant and more affordable as well. As such, these batteries could open the door for much cheaper EVs, smartphones, and other high-tech devices moving forward. At the very least, this technology provides a possible alternative to a scenario in which one country decides to prevent the export of vital rare earth metals like Lithium.

Real-World Uses & Timeline for Sodium ASSBs

There are many applications for sodium batteries. They could one day provide an affordable alternative for applications that require high voltage. Additionally, these batteries are already being researched as replacements for the expensive and bulky Li-ion batteries found in today’s EVs. In the future, this technology will expand into nearly all electronic sectors, offering a reliable and safer alternative to the status quo.

When Could This Hit the Market?

You could see sodium battery alternatives within the next 5 years. This study opens the door for further adoption of the technology, and the use of established techniques means that today’s massive giga factories could produce both types of batteries with minimal adjustments.

Sodium Battery Enhancements Study Researchers

The Sodium Enhancements study was hosted by the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. It was put forth by a team of Liew family professors, which refers to their leadership in their particular fields.

The paper specifically lists Shyue Ping Ong, Ying Shirley Meng, Jin An Sam Oh, Zihan Yu, Chen-Jui Huang, Phillip Ridley, Alex Liu, Tianren Zhang, Bing Joe Hwang, and Kent J. Griffith as contributors to the study.

Sodium Battery Enhancements Study Future

The future of this technology looks bright for many reasons. For one, the kinetic stabilization of a diffusion-favorable anion framework is applicable to many other related hydridoborates and anion-cluster chemistries. As such, the team will continue to research other materials and options, seeking to unlock additional performance.

Investing in Battery Manufacturing

The battery sector is a fast-paced economy that has seen significant growth over the last decade. The world is mobile, and batteries are powering it. As such, there are several manufacturers that have come to dominate the market. Here’s one company that remains an industry leader.

Microvast 

Microvast entered the market in 2006. It’s headquartered in Texas and has manufacturing operations based in Huzhou, China. Its founder, Yang Wu, is a Stanford alumnus who envisioned the company as a leading provider of advanced Li-ion batteries to the emerging EV market.

As part of this strategy, the company pioneered several new technologies, including an ultra-fast charging system dubbed MpCO Battery Technology in 2017. Microvast has seen significant growth since its launch, and it now operates several facilities globally, including operations in Germany, Tennessee, and China.

This year, the company unveiled its True All-Solid-State Battery technology, which pushed performance to new heights. Those seeking access to an established battery manufacturer with high-level strategic partnerships and a reputable past should do more research into Microvast shares.

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Sodium Battery Enhancements Study | Conclusion

These sodium battery enhancements could unlock a safer future for millions. The world’s dependence on Lithium-based batteries has already caused pollution, damage, health risks, and even military tensions globally. Sodium-based batteries help to alleviate these issues and open the door for a safer future, where cheap portable energy is the norm.

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References

^{1. “Metastable sodium closo-hydridoborates for all-solid-state batteries with thick cathodes,” Oh et al. Joule, Sept. 16, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2025.102130}