Natron Energy, an American battery tech startup founded in 2012, develops high-performance rechargeable sodium-ion batteries thanks to their advancements in prussian blue electrodes and electrolytes. Their batteries store and transfer sodium-ions faster and with less internal resistance than any other commercially available batteries. With zero strain during charge/discharge, 10x faster cycling, and an over 50,000 cycle-life, Natron’s sodium-ion batteries represent the future of energy storage.
Challenges: lithium battery
Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, which means they can store more energy in a smaller and lighter package than other battery technologies. They have a low rate of self-discharge, which means they can keep their charge for longer.
The lithium-ion battery technology has reached maturity after many years of research and work to make it useful in industry. They have been used a lot in portable electronics like smartphones, laptops, and personal digital assistants. They have also been used in electric cars, electric forklifts, automated guided vehicles, boats, yachts, storing intermittent solar and wind energy, and giving backup power to critical equipment.
But making and throwing away lithium-ion batteries can be bad for the environment. For example, lithium and other metals have to be taken out of the ground, and a fire could release toxic chemicals. Lithium-ion batteries can be expensive, which keeps them from being used on a large scale to store energy. Also, several dozens of lithium-ion energy storage systems are said to have exploded or caught fire.
But making and throwing away lithium-ion batteries can have negative environmental impacts, such as the extraction of lithium and other metals, as well as the potential release of toxic chemicals in landfills. Lithium-ion batteries can be expensive, which potentially prevents them from widespread applications in grid-scale energy storage. Also, several dozens of lithium-ion energy storage systems are reported to have exploded or caught fire.
Therefore, low-cost, high-performance, and low fire risk battery technology is required for the future energy storage.
Natron Energy Technology
Natron Energy develops sodium-ion batteries utilizing inexpensive prussian blue materials and natural abundance of sodium. The open-framework nature of the cubic structure of prussian blue, which contains open channels and interstitial sites, enables rapid solid-state diffusion of sodium ions. Their sodium-ion batteries have a lower cost, a lower fire risk, rapid recharge capabilities, a wide operating temperature range, a longer cycling lifetime, and are more environmentally friendly than commercial lithium-ion batteries, making them a future energy storage alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Natron sodium ion battery
The diagram below depicts the structure of the Natron sodium-ion battery.