New hard carbon material improves sodium-ion battery capacity

Researchers have developed a new type of hard carbon, named P/S-rGO@C, designed to improve the performance and longevity of sodium-ion batteries. This material features a porous structure similar to coral, which provides more space for sodium ions to accumulate during charging.

Developed through a research project funded by China's Zhejiang province, the composite aims to address the energy density gap between sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries. In laboratory tests, the material achieved a capacity of 311 mAh per gram at low currents. Notably, it maintained a capacity of 206.6 mAh per gram after 1,000 cycles at a current of 3 A per gram, demonstrating structural stability under repeated stress.

While the technology is currently in the laboratory stage and not yet ready for large-scale applications like electric vehicles, it represents a potential step toward making sodium-ion batteries a more competitive alternative to lithium-ion technology.