Speakers

There have been commercially availble lithium ion batteries for approximately 25 years since they were first commercialised by Sony in the 1990's, over the years there has been a steady improvement in performance with the introduction of new cathode and anode materials. In particular there is a drive to improve the energy density of the lithium ion battery to meet the requirements of the electronics and automotive markets. However there is growing research and commercial interest in other metal-ion battery technologies that could also meet certain areas of future energy demand, in particular for stationary energy storage where energy density is not the main driver. In this respect sodium-ion battery technology has commanded an increase in both research and commercial interest over recent years. This is due to the high abundance and uniform distribution of sodium across the world compared to lithium, and the reported potential commercial advantages of lower cost, greater sustainability and improved safety characteristics of sodium ion batteries compared with their lithium-ion counterparts.

Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd have been developing a new sodium ion cell chemistry based upon a tin-containing nickel based layered oxide cathode and a hard carbon anode. Here we report on the challenges faced during the development of a new sodium-ion technology in moving from a new electrode material, through materials development and discovery, electrode optimisation and larger scale full cell prototypes. We discuss the optimisation of the material choice, electrolyte, electrode parameters and formation process on the gravimetric and volumetric cell energy density along with the lifetime and rate behaviour of the cells.

Dr Emma Kendrick FIMMM, FRSC, is an energy storage technical specialist at Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd (SLE) and has been active in the field of functional materials for nearly 20 years, with 55 journal publications and 19 patent applications. She joined SLE 6 years ago where she established the energy storage research and development program in sodium ion batteries; prior to SLE she was lead scientist for two start-up companies in lithium ion batteries. Her technical management expertise and background is in developing novel materials, and taking these materials through the research and development stages to prototype devices. She holds current honorary academic positions within chemical engineering at University College London, and chemistry at the University of Birmingham and has a BSc in chemistry from the University of Manchester, MSc and PhD in solid state materials from the University of Aberdeen and Keele University /CERAM research respectively.

Sharp Laboratories of Europe (SLE) was founded in 1990 to develop new ideas and technology for Sharp products and to support Sharp business in Europe. SLE is a UK private limited company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sharp Corporation. Research and development areas range from IT through optical devices to display electronics, optics, PV, health and energy storage. SLE has an excellent record of technology transfer starting with 5 million unit sales of a neural network microwave oven in 1994, invented in Oxford University, developed at SLE and manufactured at Sharp's factory in Wrexham. SLE was instrumental in the development of Sharp's red and blue laser diodes for CD and DVD players, demonstrating the world's first laser diode by MBE in 2004. In 2009 a new energy and environment group was established in SLE, the energy team develops and demonstrates novel energy storage devices and energy management tools for a low carbon, high energy efficiency, European consumer market. Climate change remains a challenge for mankind and the future energy strategy is being debated. We are developing advanced solar solutions that will offer consumers combined heat and power. We also have activities to develop new technology to deliver fresh business models in the energy arena and in collaboration with partners are developing future energy technologies for storage and services. In particular SLE has been investigating next generation batteries for stationary energy storage, and is looking at different business models and cases for residential energy storage systems.