Sustainable aqueous Sodium-ion batteries

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Rechargeable batteries power extensive types of mobile electronics and shown extraordinary promise for grid storage. Indeed, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) demand has surged in the last years, mainly as mobile application in portable electronics (i.e. cellphones, tablets, laptops) and primarily powered by layered oxides materials (e.g. Li(Ni,Mn,Co)O2 and Li(Ni,Co,Al)O2). A bright future is expected for these layered oxides as the battery market is now driven by the commercialization of electrical vehicles (EVs). This important increase of demand puts pressure on the stock and on the availability of the valuable elements composing the Li-ion battery materials (e.g. Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel). Assuming most of these strategic elements will essentially be used in EVs, other battery technologies are todays considered. For grid storage, sodium battery technology could be a promising alternative to LIBs. For such application, the most important parameters are long cycle life, high safety, low cost and eco-friendly. In this context, aqueous Na-ion batteries may meet these requirements if we consider the use of stable and low-cost electrode materials derived from broadly available resources. The proposed program aims to investigate new sustainable aqueous Na-ion batteries. This will involve considering the synthesis of (new) electrode materials using abundant elements, the use and processability of eco-friendly binders and the use of environmentally benign aqueous electrolytes (seawater as a priority). These battery components will be deeply characterized after integration in Na-ion cells in order to investigate their stability upon cycling. Expected degradation of the electrode/electrolyte interfaces will be address by considering inorganic/polymer coatings to avoid unwanted reactions and to allow long cycle life of the devices. It will be important to minimize or prevent water decomposition and hydrogen evolution at the material surface. The investigation of the different interfaces will be assessed by state-of-the-art equipment allowing in situ/operando studies (equipment recently funded in the MAPLES project by the Canada Foundation for Innovation/Québec). This research program involves multi-disciplinary consideration and it is rooted in basic understanding which will enable developing improved materials and devices. The development new electrochemical storage batteries, which rely on more abundant and eco-friendly components, is crucial for our society and will be targeted in this program, which offers important potential breakthroughs to develop green sustainable sodium-ion aqueous batteries.