>"One of the problems with them in their current form, however [...] inactive sodium crystals tend to build up on the surface of the negatively-charged electrode [...] which winds up killing the battery."
[...]
"Experimenting with the design of sodium-ion batteries led the team to produce a version with a cathode made of
layered metal oxide
and a liquid electrolyte with a higher concentration of sodium ions.
In testing, the team found that this led to a much smoother interaction between the electrolyte and the cathode, enabling the continuous movement of the sodium ions and
avoiding the troublesome buildup of inactive crystals on the cathode surface.
The upshot of that was battery offering capacity similar to some lithium-ion batteries and with an uninterrupted generation of electricity, maintaining 80 percent of its charge after 1,000 cycles."
[...]
"Experimenting with the design of sodium-ion batteries led the team to produce a version with a cathode made of
layered metal oxide
and a liquid electrolyte with a higher concentration of sodium ions.
In testing, the team found that this led to a much smoother interaction between the electrolyte and the cathode, enabling the continuous movement of the sodium ions and
avoiding the troublesome buildup of inactive crystals on the cathode surface.
The upshot of that was battery offering capacity similar to some lithium-ion batteries and with an uninterrupted generation of electricity, maintaining 80 percent of its charge after 1,000 cycles."