Researchers at KAIST have developed a new hybrid battery that utilizes powerful sodium ions for quick charging, capable of charging in a matter of seconds. Sodium is more abundant than lithium and has shown potential for sodium-ion battery technology, but existing batteries face limitations such as lower energy production and longer charging times.
To address these limitations, the team at KAIST created a hybrid energy storage system that combines battery anode materials with supercapacitor cathodes to achieve high storage capacities and fast charge and discharge speeds. By optimizing the synthesis of hybrid batteries, they developed a sodium-ion storage system with high energy and power density, surpassing current commercial lithium-ion batteries while exhibiting supercapacitor-like power characteristics.
The breakthrough in energy storage technology has an energy density of 247 Wh/kg and a power density of 34,748 W/kg, making it expected to have applications in electric vehicles, smart devices, and aerospace technologies. Professor Kang sees potential for broader usage in various electronic devices, including electric vehicles, thanks to this new hybrid sodium-ion energy storage device.
In conclusion, the development of this high-performance energy storage device marks a significant advancement in overcoming current limitations in energy storage systems. The balance of rapid charging and impressive energy and power density opens up possibilities for a wide range of applications in the technology sector.
