Sodium-Ion (Na-Ion)

Direct Answer

Sodium-Ion (Na-Ion) chemistry replaces lithium with abundant, low-cost sodium compounds. Operating at 3.0V–3.1V nominal with energy densities of 140–160 Wh/kg, Na-ion cells deliver exceptional low-temperature capacity retention (>85% at -20°C, operable down to -40°C), zero thermal runaway risk at 0V discharge, and use aluminum current collectors on both cathode and anode.

Source: GB/T & IEC Emerging Standards · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026

Specs

Nominal Cell Voltage	3.00 – 3.10 V
Gravimetric Energy Density	130 – 165 Wh/kg
Volumetric Energy Density	260 – 340 Wh/L
Cycle Life (to 80% Capacity)	2,000 – 4,000 Cycles
Thermal Runaway Threshold	> 260 °C
Operating Temperature Range	-40 to +60 °C
Self-Discharge Rate	2 – 3% / Month
Primary Anode Material	Hard Carbon (Biomass-derived Non-graphitizable Carbon)
Primary Cathode Material	Prussian White Analogues / Layered Transition Metal Oxides (NaMO2)

Supply Chain Independence & Zero-Volt Shipping

Because sodium does not alloy with aluminum at low potentials, Na-ion cells use aluminum foil for both negative and positive current collectors instead of expensive copper foil. Furthermore, Na-ion batteries can be completely discharged to 0.0V without damaging electrodes or suffering dissolution, which classifies them as non-hazardous for transport and storage purposes under current shipping regulations -- a genuine practical advantage over Li-ion, though no battery chemistry is risk-free in every failure scenario.