Genetic approach to Sodium ion batteries

A sustainable energy infrastructure requires a holistic approach across generation, storage, and delivery to enable a successful green transition. Batteries are vital for energy storage, powering portable devices, and electric vehicles, and stabilizing grids for renewable sources like wind and solar. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dominate the market but depend on scarce, costly materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, raising supply chain, environmental, and ethical concerns. With the growing demand for energy storage, sustainable alternatives are essential. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a cost-effective, eco-friendly option, utilizing abundant elements like sodium, iron, and manganese. These materials reduce reliance on critical resources, and layered oxides of sodium have proven viable as cathode materials.

The GENSIB project advances SIB technology to enhance performance and economic feasibility, positioning SIBs as a sustainable solution for large-scale energy storage, supporting renewable energy adoption, and reducing environmental impact. The GENSIB project bridges atomic-scale material discovery with real-world battery testing to advance sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology. It addresses key limitations, such as cathode degradation in layered oxides during cycling, which impacts capacity retention and lifespan. Central to this innovation is a "genetic" approach that treats redox orbitals as "genes" encoding essential electronic properties. The project will develop tailored-modeling workflows to refine designs, predict degradation, and improve performance. Validated with industry partners, the toolbox bridges research and real-world applications, supporting robust SIB designs and scaling technology as a competitive alternative to LIBs for grid support and energy storage. It focuses on both fundamental research and applies innovation to advance SIB technology toward commercial viability. Through sustainable cathode material synthesis and SIB pouch cell fabrication, GENSIB aims to optimize materials, improve performance, and position SIBs as a long-lasting, sustainable energy storage solution for green energy infrastructure.

Updates on the project can be found on the LinkedIn page of the Research Unit of Sustainable Chemistry.