Advantages and Sustainability of Sodium-Ion Batteries Integrated with Fire Suppressants: A Pathway to Safer and Greener Energy Storage

Аннотация

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining attention as safer and cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, but challenges remain in improving their safety, performance, and sustainability. This study explores advancements in electrolyte additives, polymer electrolytes, separators, and poly- ionic membranes to enhance SIB efficiency and safety. Sodium bis(oxalato)borate (NaBOB) was identified as a non-flammable and fluoride-free alternative to toxic NaPF6 in trimethyl phosphate (TMP), achieving thermal stability up to 300°C, high ionic conductivity (5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹), and 97% coulombic efficiency. Incorporating vinylene carbonate (VC) mitigates discharge capacity degradation over cycling. Flexible polymer electrolytes, such as PPEGMA-gel systems, demonstrate resilience to mechanical shocks with a capacity retention of 91% after 400 cycles and a wide voltage range of 4.8 V, though high-temperature performance requires further investigation. Organic electrolyte blends with 10 vol% fluoroethylene The American Journal of Engineering and Technology 65 https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajet The American Journal of Engineering and Technology carbonates (FEC) improve electrode stability, enabling generated can ignite the electrolyte or other flammable energy densities of up to 1246 Wh kg⁻¹ after 300 cycles. components within the cell, leading to fire or even Advanced separators, such as ZrO₂/PVDF-HFP-coated explosion [10]. This issue becomes particularly polyolefins, exhibit enhanced Na⁺ conductivity (7 × 10⁻⁴ concerning in large-scale applications where a single- S cm⁻¹) but require ceramic modifications for higher cell failure can propagate to neighboring cells, resulting thermal resilience, achieving stability up to 500°C with in catastrophic damage. barium titanate integration. The chemical behavior of sodium-ion batteries differs from that of lithium-ion systems due to the unique Hierarchical poly-ionic liquid-based solid electrolytes characteristics of sodium. Sodium’s larger ionic radius (HPILSE) outperform conventional membranes in influences ion transport dynamics, electrode flexibility, thermal stability (up to 300°C), and interactions, and electrolyte formulations. These resistance to mechanical stress. Future studies are differences, while advantageous in certain respects, essential to optimize ionic conductivity through also introduce complexities in terms of safety. For additive research. This comprehensive exploration of instance, the flammability and combustion pathways of materials and configurations offers promising SIB electrolytes and electrode materials may diverge directions for the development of safe, efficient, and from those observed in LIBs, necessitating dedicated durable sodium-ion batteries. research to understand these processes [11]. Moreover, the higher reactivity of sodium compared to Keywords: Sodium-ion batteries, NaBOB, non- lithium under certain conditions can exacerbate fire flammable electrolytes, ionic conductivity, thermal hazards, particularly when exposed to air or moisture stability, polymer electrolytes, energy density, cycle [12]. These factors underline the importance of stability developing tailored fire suppression strategies that address the specific risks associated with sodium-ion Introduction: The increasing adoption of sodium-ion technology. batteries (SIBs) as a sustainable and cost-effective Fires in sodium-ion batteries can originate from various alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has drawn triggers, including overcharging, mechanical abuse, or considerable attention in recent years [7], [8]. This shift manufacturing defects that result in internal short- toward SIB technology is driven by several key factors, circuits [13]. Overcharging, for example, can lead to the including the abundant availability of sodium breakdown of electrolyte components and the release resources, the lower production costs associated with of flammable gases, which can ignite under high sodium-based materials, and the potential for reduced temperatures. Mechanical damage, such as that caused environmental impact when compared to LIBs. With by impact or puncture, can compromise the battery’s these advantages, SIBs have emerged as a promising structural integrity and expose reactive materials to the energy storage solution, particularly in applications external environment [14]. Internal short-circuits, often such as renewable energy grids, large-scale storage arising from dendrite formation or separator failure, systems, and electric vehicles (EVs). However, create localized hot spots that can initiate thermal alongside these opportunities comes a set of unique runaway. Once thermal runaway begins, the challenges that must be addressed to ensure their safe exothermic reactions within the cell release significant and reliable integration into modern energy systems. amounts of heat and gas, creating a feedback loop that Safety is a critical concern for an