Sodium Sulfur Battery vs. Lithium Ion-Difference and Selection

Page view

The business of battery is booming successfully in today's time. The lithium-ion batteries are known for the green energy revolution. But the skyrocketing cost of lithium is making the shift to such metals which are highly efficient and are low in cost. The price of lithium has become extravagant in the last few years. This is because the availability of lithium is not even all across the planet. But lithium ion batteries are in high demand because they are used in mobile devices, airplanes, electric cars, electric power trains, etc.

Lithium is the principal metal that is used in lithium ion batteries, which have made the demand of it ever increasing. Keeping the scarcity of lithium in mind, researchers have come up with another metal that has high efficiency. It is a low cost alternative that will be less likely to damage the environment as well in comparison to other metals. The metal is sodium, which is also a neighbor of lithium in the periodic table. The sodium sulfur batteries are coming in the market, which is produced from liquid sodium and sulfur.

Is sulfur used in batteries?

Yes, sulfur is being used in batteries these days. Sulfur can be used in cells because it is not so expensive and offers high charge capacity in batteries. The lithium sulfur batteries have high energy density as well. It works like a rechargeable battery. The cost of such a cell is relatively low because of the sulfur. The lithium ion batteries that are currently used in mobile devices, laptops, camera, and other electronic device needs to get a charge at least once in a day. But if lithium sulfur batteries will be used in mobile devices, laptops, cameras, then it is highly possible the power may remain charged for 4 to 5 days straight.

As of now, only lithium ion batteries are in a position to rule the power market. They are rechargeable, but still, they are able to retain a specific and limited amount of energy within them. It is known that lithium sulfur batteries can store a lot more power because sulfur offers a higher capacity of charge. It is also one of the inexpensive components that are used in lithium ion batteries. But the issue lies with high energy performance.

Until now, lithium sulfur has not managed and maintained high energy performance over a long period of time. This is because the sulfur electrode expands and contracts during power cycle (i.e., the procedure of a battery going to charge to getting completely exhausted and then back to recharge to its full capacity) which breaks apart due to repeated cycles of charging that ultimately results in draining the battery quickly.

What is the difference between sodium sulfur battery and lithium-ion?

The difference between sodium sulfur battery and lithium ion battery are as follows:

"Sodium sulfur battery

Sodium sulfur or NaS batteries come under the class of high temperature batteries. They are known as high temperature batteries because the increased temperature is required to keep the cathode and anode material in a molten state for the battery to perform. During the process, the chemical reaction that occurs creates sufficient heat to conserve the molten state. The use of molten Na as a negative electrode, i.e., anode and molten sulfur as a positive electrode, i.e., the cathode was developed first in the 1960s by ford motor company.

Sodium sulfur battery is made in a cylindrical arrangement. The entire battery is surrounded by a steel case which remains protected by chromium and molybdenum. This outside container acts as a positive electrode, whereas the liquid sodium acts as a negative electrode. In the commercial application, the batteries are configured in blocks so that better heat conservation is surrounded in a vacuum insulated box. The lithium ions move away from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach up to the cathode.

"Lithium ion battery

Corporation commercialized lithium ion batteries in 1991. The lithium ion battery is a modern technology that uses lithium as a significant component in its chemistry. During the process of the discharge cycle, the lithium ions that are present in anode get ionizes and separate themselves from their electrons.

The common combinations of lithium ion batteries are lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, lithium titanate, etc.

How do you choose the best sodium sulfur battery or lithium ion?

Considering the advantages of sodium sulfur batteries and lithium ion batteries, you can easily select and choose the best one. Following are the advantages of both:

Advantages of Sodium Sulfur Battery

Following are some benefits offered by sodium sulfur battery:

"The sodium sulfur batteries have a high life cycle.

"There is flexibility in the operation of sodium sulfur batteries.

"The sodium sulfur batteries generally have high power density.

"Sodium sulfur possesses excellent energy efficiency to deliver.

"There is a low cost attached to sodium sulfur batteries.

"The sodium sulfur batteries are insensitive to temperature and air pressure.

Advantages of lithium ion battery

Listed below are some of the benefits that lithium ion batteries carry:

"They have high energy density and still have the capacity for higher potential.

"There is no periodic or repeated discharging required.

"The lithium ion batteries have low maintenance.

"A lithium ion battery offers high current to electronic power tools.

Conclusion

The above listed difference and advantages will help you in selecting the best battery according to your desired purpose.

lithium-ion battery e-bike battery lithium battery

Where to Recycle LiPo Batteries - Disposal and Recycling

博力威

(+86)769 27282088

Sodium Sulfur Battery vs. Lithium Ion-Difference and Selection