Research Breakthrough Produces ‘Inexpensive, Clean, Fast-Charging’ Batteries

Experts say the new batteries, which use sodium instead of lithium, can help minimize dependence on China.

A worker with car batteries at a factory for Xinwangda Electric Vehicle Battery Co. Ltd., which makes lithium batteries for electric cars and other uses, in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu Province on March 12, 2021. STR/AFP via Getty Images

Scientists have created the world’s first anode-free sodium solid-state battery that they say is cheaper than the dominant lithium batteries.

The new breakthrough was made by researchers from the Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion (LESC) at the University of Chicago. Traditional batteries have an anode that stores charged atomic particles called ions. When the battery is turned on, ions flow from the anode to the cathode, or the current collector, to power devices.