The LOCO-NIBs (Low-cost Na-ion Batteries) Project funded by Innovate UK aims to investigate novel anode and cathode materials with compositions and morphologies which allow stable insertion and removal of sodium ions for a long number of cycles. This would facilitate the creation of energy storage systems of significantly lower cost due to the abundance of the sodium resources and materials implemented. This collaboration between School of Materials Science and Engineering at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Johnson Matthey (JM) aims to develop low cost and highly performing electrode materials for sodium-ion electrodes based on abundant sodium resources and biomass derived low cost carbon electrodes. This will accelerate the development of sodium ion batteries which could be then integrated into battery modules, creating a new generation of competitive stationary battery systems increasing thus the security of supply, and the use of clean and locally generated energy sources such as solar and wind.   

Most of the ongoing research in sodium-ion batteries relates to the development of cathodes where replacement of lithium by sodium has been a common route for finding good and low cost electrodes. Thus, a wide range of compounds are being currently studied as cathode materials from oxides to phosphates, fluorophosphates or pyrophosphates. Within this project we aim to investigate cathode candidate materials obtained by replacement or reduction in higher cost metal elements such as Co and Ni, with higher abundance, lower cost elements such as Fe and Mn, while improving cell voltage, capacity and cycling stability through accommodation of volume changes.

Much less research has been dedicated in the field to the anode material due to the inability of sodium to insert into graphite along with the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interface layer. Most of the proposed carbon materials as anodes in sodium ion batteries in the literature are expensive and derived from fossil-fuel precursors, using high-energy production techniques.

Following successful completion of the project, further development up the supply chain into cells and finally into sodium-ion battery based modules and systems is foreseen. The stationary market is predicted to grow in the near future. It is predicted that over 50,000 modules will be required by 2020. If this was the case then this would require 500 tonnes of combined anode and cathode materials. Interactions with energy companies, OEMS and other end users would also be anticipated, promoting the creation of a supply chain for electrical energy storage that would make an important contribution to economic growth and employment in the UK.