Extending low-temperature operation of sodium metal batteries

In this work, we propose specific electrolyte formulations for Na-ion batteries comprising linear and cyclic ether-based solvents and sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate salt that are thermally stable down to ?150?°C and enable the formation of stable solid electrolyte interphase at low temperatures. It shows the excellent performance of Na-ion batteries at very low temperatures, essential for their application in aeronautics/space missions, polar expeditions, and many military and civil facilities in cold regions.

The experimental investigations were carried out by Prof. Weiyang (Fiona) Li at Dartmouth Engineering, and the calculations were performed by Prof. Geoffroy Hautier at Dartmouth Engineering and Dr. Sergio Posada-Pérez at the DIMOCAT group from IQCC.

The work has recently been published in Nature Communications.

C. Wang, A. C. Thenuwara, J. Luo, P. P. Shetty, M. T. McDowell, H. Zhu, S. Posada-Pérez, H. Xiong, G. Hautier and W. Li
“Extending the low-temperature operation of sodium metal batteries combining linear and cyclic ether-based electrolyte solutions”
Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 4934
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32606-4

Girona, Sep. 6, 2022
For more info: gestor.iqcc@gmail.com