Since the introduction of secondary rechargeable batteries, practitioners have never stopped exploring and researching and developing. In SES Power's view, with the wide application of secondary rechargeable batteries, the broad market prospects are more and more given to investors. Greater confidence and funding for more difficult developments.

　　Even though SES Power is a manufacturer integrating lithium-ion batteries, we have never slowed down our investment in research and development in our nearly 20-year career. Our lead-acid replacement products (12V100Ah, 12V200Ah), UPS, high-power Inverter's high-voltage lithium battery system (up to 860V), 3Kw~20Kw off-grid, grid-connected lithium battery energy storage system, cabinet battery system (standard 19 inches), intelligent wall-mounted lithium-ion energy storage system, stacked lithium-ion For products such as energy storage systems, whether it is hardware design, software design, or big data analysis, etc., we have never stopped making efforts to give lithium-ion batteries higher wisdom.

　　Lithium-ion batteries are not the whole of secondary rechargeable batteries. In the latest research and development, in addition to the continuous breakthrough of lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries are also close to going out of the laboratory and entering real applications.

　　Let's take a look at two pieces of product information about batteries.

　　A: A new additive in electrolyte formulation could reduce the risk of thermal events in lithium-ion batteries

　　Although the density and safety of solid-state batteries have very good advantages, many companies are steadily investing in the research and development of solid-state batteries. But for now, we still need ways to ensure the safety of existing technologies.

　　In late July, Switzerland-based Leclanché announced a new battery breakthrough that they claim significantly reduces the risk of thermal events in lithium-ion batteries.

　　(Leclanché's non-flammable lithium-ion battery is expected to enter production in the first quarter of 2023)

　　As we all know, lithium-ion batteries, although a revolutionary technology, are not the safest. Specifically, lithium-ion batteries are often at risk of thermal events such as thermal runaway or combustion. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that lithium-ion battery structures rely on the use of an electrolytic solution.

　　This solution, usually composed of organic solvents, is the fuel for fires and can easily burn if exposed to sparks from batteries. Often, this is what causes lithium-ion batteries to catch fire, because the battery is punctured, or the separator is damaged.

　　While there have been many efforts to improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries, most efforts have come at the cost of performance. That said, many of the efforts for safer batteries have come at the cost of reduced performance or reduced battery life -- neither of which are suitable for use in the field.

　　Now Leclanché is trying to change that. In late July, the company announced that they had achieved a new breakthrough in battery safety that would not negatively impact battery performance.

　　While details of many of the techniques have yet to be released, to our knowledge, the main focus is the introduction of flame retardant additives into battery electrolyte formulations.

　　To verify that these safety improvements do not result in a loss of performance or battery life, Intertek Germany, a German company that manufactures, tests and certifies internationally, validated Leclanché's new technology. Validation included needle prick testing of a 60Ah battery equipped with Leclanché's new chemistry. During these tests, Intertek forced an internal short in an attempt to cause the battery to burn. Surprisingly, it was found through testing that the newly formulated batteries were less flammable than conventional batteries.

　　According to Leclanché, their new breakthrough reduces the risk of burning by nearly 80 percent, making battery-powered devices safer for users. Specifically, Leclanché expects their breakthrough to play an important role in the public sector, where operators of public transport, trucks and trains are often concerned about fire risks.

　　Additionally, the technology could have major implications for standard electric vehicles, as fires from collisions are a constant, urgent and challenging headache for first responders. This could effectively improve the odds of saving lives by designing batteries that are less likely to burn.

　　According to Leclanché, the non-flammable batteries will begin production in the first quarter of 2023.

　　B: A solution to improve the performance of sodium-ion batteries

　　Researchers at the Department of Energy (DOE) have achieved a major breakthrough they believe could make sodium-ion batteries a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

　　They tweaked the composition of the liquid core of the sodium-based storage device, which could greatly extend the lifespan and solve the performance issues that have plagued them so far. "Here, we show in principle that sodium-ion batteries have the potential to be a durable, environmentally friendly battery technology," said one of the lead researchers.

　　A related paper was published in the journal Nature Energy.

　　Scientists have long viewed sodium-ion batteries as the best option to replace lithium-ion batteries in the future for several reasons: Sodium is abundant, far cheaper, more accessible, and more ethically mined than lithium, which is is an expensive and limited resource that is exploited in underdeveloped parts of the world.

　　The researchers say that lithium-ion batteries can get heavier with increased energy density, and sodium-ion batteries can get around this problem, making it more attractive to replace lithium-ion batteries with sodium-ion batteries.

　　A major disadvantage of sodium-ion batteries is that they decay faster than lithium-ion batteries, which would hinder their viability as a commercial replacement for lithium-ion batteries. The PNNL team tackled this problem by creating a new electrolyte formulation that switches the liquid solution and the type of salt that flows through the battery in an attempt to perfectly solve this critical problem.

　　The electrolytes currently used in sodium-ion batteries tend to dissolve the protective film on the anode or negative electrode in the device. The protective film is a critical part of the battery because it allows sodium ions to pass through the anode while maintaining battery life.

　　The new method stabilizes the protective film of the anode while adding an ultrathin protective layer to the cathode (positive electrode). According to the researchers, the overall performance of the improved battery is more stable, and in experimental tests, the battery can maintain 90% of the battery capacity after 300 cycles at 4.2V.

　　Although the improved sodium-ion battery has higher performance than previous sodium-ion batteries, it is not on a par with lithium-ion batteries. The researchers say this is one of the most promising efforts to date to advance the design of sodium-based batteries.

　　The improved sodium-ion battery has also demonstrated the ability to operate at high voltages and is an improvement over current lithium-ion battery designs. The ability to operate at high voltages has always been a challenge for lithium-ion batteries.

　　In fact, lithium-ion designs can short-circuit and even fire when their energy density is too high, which is one of the key reasons why scientists are looking to replace them. The new sodium-based battery uses a natural extinguishing solution that is not affected by temperature changes and can operate at high pressures, the researchers said. And the ultra-thin layer formed on the anode is key, providing overall stability.