Microscopic Insights into Enhancing Conductivity and Stability in Sodium Solid Electrolytes

Solid-state sodium batteries offer a safer and more stable alternative to traditional liquid electrolyte batteries, significantly reducing risks such as leaks and fires. Additionally, sodium's abundance and cost-effectiveness compared to lithium make these batteries a promising option for scalable, sustainable energy storage. Sodium-ion solid electrolytes, particularly sodium zirconium phosphate (NaSICON), stand out due to their low manufacturing costs, superior ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical windows, and strong chemical and thermal stability, making them excellent candidates for all-solid-state sodium batteries. However, challenges such as limited mechanical properties and high interfacial resistivity hinder their practical application. In this presentation, I will share our recent studies on how advanced synthesis methods can effectively tune microscale features and significantly enhance not only the mechanical properties but also the structural and chemical stability of NaSICON when used in flow batteries. A comparison of NaSICON materials with different microstructures and chemistries will also be provided.