AI Insight
Researchers at the University of Surrey discovered that sodium vanadium oxide batteries retain significantly higher performance when their naturally occurring water content is preserved during manufacturing, rather than being removed as is standard practice. This counterintuitive approach nearly doubled the battery's power output. The finding challenges conventional battery manufacturing processes that typically involve removing all water to prevent degradation.
Why it matters
This discovery could substantially improve sodium-ion battery technology, which is a cheaper and more abundant alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The research may also have applications in water desalination technology, potentially providing a dual benefit of better energy storage and improved access to drinking water from seawater.
Understand the Science
A surprisingly simple change could make sodium-ion batteries far more powerful while opening the door to turning seawater into drinking water. Researchers at the University of Surrey found that sodium vanadium oxide performs much better when its naturally occurring water is left inside instead of being removed during manufacturing.
Source: Scientists left water inside a battery and nearly doubled its power