Sodium-ion Battery additive research from the National University of Singapore shows how a low-cost material can extend battery life, improve safety, and support stable solid-state performance. Moreover, the team used graphitic carbon nitride, or GCN, to improve ion transport inside a solid polymer electrolyte. As a result, the battery ran for more than 2,000 hours without failure under test conditions.
Sodium-ion battery additive improves solid-state performance
Researchers at the National University of Singapore designed a solid-state sodium battery with a simple and affordable additive. They added graphitic carbon nitride to a polymer electrolyte made from polyethylene oxide and sodium salt. Notably, the team produced GCN by heating urea to 550 degrees Celsius, which keeps the material cost low and the process practical.
The ultra-thin GCN sheets changed the internal structure of the polymer. Consequently, sodium ions moved more easily through the electrolyte. At the same time, the material strengthened the electrolyte film. This combination improved both electrochemical performance and mechanical stability.
Associate Professor Palani Balaya said the approach stands out because of its simplicity. In addition, he noted that GCN comes from one of the most widely available chemical precursors in the world. He also explained that manufacturers can integrate it into a polymer system that already supports scale-up.
Sodium-ion battery additive boosts conductivity and ion transport
The modified electrolyte delivered clear gains in ion transport. Specifically, ionic conductivity more than doubled at 55 degrees Celsius. In parallel, the sodium-ion transference number rose from 0.19 to 0.51. These figures matter because they show that a larger share of the current came from sodium ions during battery operation.
The team linked this improvement to the nitrogen-rich surface of GCN. Those active sites helped separate sodium ions from their salt pairs. Therefore, more charge-carrying ions became available inside the electrolyte. This effect supported faster and more efficient ion movement during charging and discharging.
Furthermore, the stronger polymer structure helped maintain stable contact with the sodium metal anode. That stable interface supported long-term operation and consistent performance. For solid-state sodium batteries, this kind of interface control plays a major role in lifespan and reliability.
Sodium-ion battery additive supports long cycle life
The testing results showed why the material matters. Under a current density of 0.1 mA cm-2, the standard polymer electrolyte stopped working within 250 hours. By contrast, the GCN-modified version ran stably for 1,000 hours under the same conditions. Even more impressively, it operated for more than 2,000 hours at a higher current density of 0.2 mA cm-2 without failure.
These results show strong durability in a solid-state sodium system. In addition, they suggest that a low-cost additive can deliver meaningful gains without requiring a complex redesign. That makes the approach attractive for future sodium battery development.
The researchers also assembled full all-solid-state sodium battery cells. They paired a sodium vanadium phosphate cathode with a sodium metal anode. At a 0.5C charge-discharge rate, the cells retained 95% of their capacity after 500 cycles. Meanwhile, the batteries maintained a coulombic efficiency of about 99.97%.
Those numbers point to stable and efficient operation over repeated use. For energy storage systems, high capacity retention and strong coulombic efficiency are both essential. Therefore, the data adds weight to the practical value of this electrolyte design.
Sodium-ion battery additive enables flexible pouch-cell testing
The team went beyond coin-cell style testing and built a pouch-cell version as well. During demonstration, the pouch cell continued to power an LED while researchers folded, unfolded, and even cut it. As a result, the test highlighted the electrolyte’s mechanical stability and its strong safety profile.
This flexible performance gives the technology broader appeal. For example, future sodium-ion batteries may benefit from safer solid-state designs in portable devices and large-format storage. Because sodium is abundant and affordable, improved solid-state systems could support cost-conscious battery manufacturing.
What comes next for sodium-ion battery additive development
The National University of Singapore team now plans to improve operation closer to room temperature. In addition, the researchers are developing bipolar stacked battery architectures to raise energy density. These next steps could move the technology closer to practical commercial use.
The study appeared in Advanced Functional Materials. Overall, the work shows that a sodium-ion battery additive made from low-cost graphitic carbon nitride can improve conductivity, support stable cycling, and extend operating life beyond 2,000 hours. With strong capacity retention, excellent efficiency, and flexible pouch-cell performance, this design offers a promising path for safer and longer-lasting solid-state sodium batteries.
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