New research shifts sodium batteries from risky liquid to safe solid

New research, published in the journal Nature Materials, suggests that by using polymer as the ion conductor rather than the flammable liquid solvents currently used in lithium-ion batteries, the energy storage is greener, safer, and less expensive. Lead researcher Fangfang Chen said the team used a computer-to-lab material design strategy, applying modelling and simulations to find the best compositions for polymer electrolytes.

Lithium-based technology is expensive, in-demand and increasingly scarce, so breakthroughs that provide alternative, inexpensive, and safe energy storage options are of major significance. This is a significant milestone, and this process will act as a design criterion for further development in this field of research.