I-Corps: Translation Potentional of Low-Cost Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes

Award ID: 2629057

This I-Corps project is based on the development of sodium-ion battery cathode materials to improve the stability and manufacturability of next-generation lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The rapid growth of batteries for transportation, grid storage, backup power, industrial electrification, and other energy storage markets is increasing the need for lower-cost technologies that are safer, more resilient, and less dependent on critical materials. This technology is a sodium-ion cathode platform that uses widely available sodium-containing salts while aiming to fit into established battery manufacturing workflows. The goal is to lower technical and manufacturing risk while reducing the cost of materials. Using this technology may reduce battery material costs, offer alternative supply chains, and support more reliable access to energy storage across multiple applications. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of salt-composite sodium-ion battery cathodes. This technology is a cathode platform based on electrochemically accessible inorganic salt composites integrated with redox-active components to enable practical charge storage using lower cost, more abundant materials. This approach differs from many existing cathode strategies by using salt-composite redox chemistry to access cathode-level energy density higher than that of widely used Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4), while retaining compatibility with conventional electrode-manufacturing steps such as powder processing, slurry mixing, coating, calendaring, cell assembly, and formation. Laboratory proof-of-concept results have integrated and validated the basic technology components, supporting the feasibility of the platform. The primary application of this technology is in lithium-ion and next-generation battery systems used in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. By improving stability and compatibility with current manufacturing infrastructure, the technology may help battery manufacturers reduce qualification time, protect manufacturing yield, and potentially lower battery cost per kilowatt-hour. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman