Development of Advanced Cathode Materials for Na-ion Batteries

Jang-Yeon Hwang

Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University

jangyeonhw@hanyang.ac.kr*

As the global demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continues to rise, concerns over raw material costs and supply chain security have intensified. These challenges have accelerated the development of cost-effective, high-performance alternatives, among which Na-ion batteries (NIBs) have emerged as particularly promising candidates. However, the standard reduction potential of sodium is −2.71 V in relation to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), which is marginally higher than that of lithium (-3.04 V). This disparity indicates that sodium-based batteries generally exhibit a lower theoretical energy density in comparison to LIBs, as the diminished reduction potential leads to a decrease in cell voltage. Furthermore, the relatively higher atomic mass of sodium (22.99 g/mol) limit the achievable energy density compared with lithium-based systems. Hence, the development of advanced cathode materials that can deliver the high reversible capacity and high operating voltage is essential for the practical commercialization of NIBs. In addition, cost-effective and scalable synthesis processes are required to ensure economic viability. In this presentation, I will introduce advanced material design strategies for the development of high-performance, cost-effective cathode materials for practical NIBs.