A group of researchers from Canadian Light Source (CLS) and Western University are using cheaper materials with higher energy and better recharging rates to develop batteries for electric vehicles.
The new technology is aimed at improving rechargeability and reaction kinetics of sodium-air batteries.
Scientists are studying sodium-air battery systems and its chemical composition and charging behavior which they claim will facilitate road-worthy batteries for EVs.
Canada Western University department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Dr. Xueliang (Andy) Sun said: "Development of new rechargeable battery systems with higher energy density will increase the EVs mileage and make them more practical for everyday use.
"On the other side, higher energy density battery systems will pave the road for renewable energy sources in order to decrease emissions and climate change consequences," said Sun.
Researchers tried different "discharge products" from the sodium-air batteries under various different physicochemical conditions and they used X-rays of the CLS VLS-PGM beamline.
According to the researchers, few studies have ever addressed sodium-air battery systems.
CLS staff scientist Dr. Xiaoyu Cui said: "We took advantage of the high brightness and high-energy resolution of the photoemission endstation, using a surface sensitive technique to identify the different states of the sodium oxides."
