High-performance sodium-ion batteries could be made with new method

Researchers in Japan have developed a new method to enhance the performance of all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries by adding phosphorus to sodium-yttrium-silicate glasses. This addition promotes the formation of the Na5RSi4O12 crystal phase (where R represents rare earth elements), which serves as an effective solid electrolyte material. The phosphorus expands the formation range of this crystal phase when obtained as a glass ceramic, without compromising ionic conductivity. Analytical techniques such as neutron and X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and microscopy confirmed that phosphorus integrates into the crystal structure by substituting silicon sites, potentially influencing ionic conductivity due to phosphorus’s higher electronegativity. Sodium-ion batteries operate on principles similar to lithium-ion batteries but offer advantages including the abundance and low cost of sodium, which is widely available from salt and seawater. These batteries also exhibit improved safety and better performance at low temperatures, making them suitable for large-scale energy storage supporting renewable sources like solar and wind. The development of phosphorus