Hello, fellow solar enthusiasts and welcome to another blog post where we sew together the exciting happenings in the world of solar.
Recently, an intriguing development has come from the lab team at the University of Chicago San Diego that could become a substantial game-changer, not just for solar companies, but for any individual or household contemplating a switch to solar. They have created an entirely new sodium battery architecture that exhibits stable cycling for several hundred cycles! Technological advancements like these could potentially enable solar companies to provide even more affordable, higher-energy-density and faster-charging batteries.
For a bit of background, let me quickly explain the solar battery’s role in your solar array for home. The battery serves to store the excess power from your solar panels for your home, particularly when the sun’s not shining, nullifying your dependence on the traditional electricity grid. Now, imagine that your battery not only holds more power but is also significantly more cost-effective and charges quickly!
The research team stepped out of the current paradigm by its choice of an anode-free battery design. In standard batteries, an anode serves as the storage for ions on electrochemical deposits of alkali metal directly onto the current collector, but removing the anode presents several benefits. It leads to a reduced weight and volume for the battery, makes it less expensive, and increases energy density, meaning your battery can store more power.
Nevertheless, free from anode obstacles must be mitigated: the crucial one being the demand for good contact between the electrolyte and the current collector. Typically, the liquid electrolyte in conventional batteries, can flow and wet all surfaces, but ironically, this same liquid electrolyte causes a buildup known as solid electrolyte interphase while slowly consuming active materials, thereby reducing the battery’s life span.
The researchers from the University of Chicago San Diego have ingeniously engineered around these challenges, and in doing so, they seem to have cleared the pathway to the future of solar batteries. But what does that mean for you as a potential or interested solar user? Transitioning to a solar array for your home now comes with the added value of a potential leap in storage capacity and charging speed. Furthermore, this might open the door for a new breed of solar companies specializing exclusively in these upgraded solar batteries.
Solar technology never ceases to amaze me. By pushing boundaries and questioning norms, researchers are paving the way for a future where solar panels for your home are commonplace and are coupled with hyper-efficient, fast-charging batteries.
As always, I’ll keep my eyes peeled and bring you the latest from the fascinating world of solar. Until next time, continue bathing in the sun and keep powering your world the solar way – an enlightened way, indeed.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/07/10/worlds-first-anode-free-sodium-solid-state-battery/
