Sodium Titanate for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

First research related to the intercalation of sodium atoms into the structure of the host material emerged in the early 1980s. Since that time, the development of sodium-ion batteries continues. In the last decade, a considerable attention is aimed at sodium-ion batteries with the context of renewable energy sources. The consumption of non-renewable resources like oil or coal resulted in an increasing problem related to the production of greenhouse gases. The main solution to this problem is the generation of energy by renewable energy sources like wind, sun, or hydropower. Solar and wind energies are among non-dispatchable energy sources, i.e. the energy cannot be dispatched at a request of the power grid or the plant owner according to current needs. Renewable energy sources need energy storage devices for energy accumulation. Batteries play a crucial role in that application. Sodium-ion batteries present a promising solution that can deliver low-cost, environmentally friendly energy storage for sustainable development of the human society. This manuscript provides a brief introduction into the field of sodium-ion batteries and describes a simple preparation method of a negative electrode material for sodium-ion batteries that is based on sodium-titanate ceramics—NaTiO.