For years, the future of electric vehicles has seemed tied to one question: how quickly can better lithium-ion batteries be developed?
That assumption is beginning to change. While lithium-ion technology continues to improve, researchers are investing heavily in alternative battery chemistries that promise lower costs, improved safety and a more resilient supply chain. Among the most promising contenders are sodium-based solid-state batteries, a technology that replaces both the flammable liquid electrolyte found in today’s batteries and one of their most strategically important raw materials.
A comprehensive review published in Batteries examines how advances in solid-state sodium batteries are moving the technology closer to commercial reality. Although several engineering challenges remain, the evidence suggests these batteries could eventually become a compelling alternative for applications where safety, affordability and sustainability matter more than achieving the absolute highest energy density.
The review was led by researchers Arianna Massaro, Lorenzo Squillantini, Francesca De Giorgio, Francesca A. Scaramuzzo, Mauro Pasquali and Sergio Brutti, who analysed recent developments in solid electrolytes, electrode materials and battery architectures. Rather than testing a single prototype, the paper synthesised findings from the latest peer-reviewed research to identify which scientific advances are bringing sodium-based batteries closer to large-scale deployment.
One of the biggest attractions is the material itself.
Unlike lithium, sodium is one of the most abundant elements on Earth and is widely available across multiple regions. That reduces concerns around concentrated supply chains and volatile commodity prices, both of which have become increasingly important as global demand for battery materials accelerates. From a manufacturing perspective, sodium also offers the potential to reduce dependence on critical minerals that are becoming more expensive to source.
Safety is another area where the technology stands out.
Conventional lithium-ion batteries rely on liquid electrolytes that can ignite if damaged or exposed to extreme temperatures. Solid-state sodium batteries replace that flammable liquid with a solid electrolyte, substantially lowering the risk of thermal runaway. That makes them particularly attractive for large-scale energy storage systems, where safety is often just as important as performance.
Performance, however, remains the central engineering challenge.
The review identifies ionic conductivity and interface stability as two of the biggest obstacles still facing the technology. Put simply, scientists need sodium ions to move through solid materials almost as efficiently as they move through liquid electrolytes. At the same time, the interfaces between the battery’s different layers must remain stable over thousands of charging cycles. Much of today’s research is focused on developing new ceramic, sulphide and polymer-based electrolytes capable of solving those problems.
Even so, progress has accelerated considerably.
Improved electrode designs, more stable electrolyte materials and advances in manufacturing techniques have significantly narrowed the performance gap with conventional batteries. While sodium-based systems are unlikely to replace lithium-ion batteries in every application, they appear increasingly well suited to stationary renewable energy storage, backup power systems and more affordable electric vehicles where slightly lower energy density is an acceptable trade-off for lower cost and improved safety.
These developments could become particularly significant as countries invest more heavily in renewable energy infrastructure.
Reliable battery storage remains one of the biggest constraints on expanding wind and solar power because electricity generation rarely aligns perfectly with demand. Technologies that are safer, cheaper and easier to manufacture at scale could help utilities deploy larger storage systems while reducing long-term operating costs.
The same shift could influence automotive manufacturing. As electric vehicles move beyond the premium market, affordability is becoming just as important as driving range. Battery technologies built around more abundant materials may offer manufacturers greater flexibility while reducing exposure to supply disruptions affecting critical minerals.
The review stops well short of suggesting that lithium-ion batteries are about to disappear. Decades of investment have created a mature technology with established manufacturing capacity and continual incremental improvements. What the evidence does suggest is that the battery industry is becoming more diverse.
Rather than searching for a single technology that outperforms every alternative, researchers are building a portfolio of battery chemistries suited to different needs. In that future, sodium may not replace lithium, but it could become one of the most important technologies powering the world’s transition to cleaner energy.
Source Information
Study Title: Advancements in Solid-State Sodium-Based Batteries: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Arianna Massaro, Lorenzo Squillantini, Francesca De Giorgio, Francesca A. Scaramuzzo, Mauro Pasquali, Sergio Brutti
Journal: Batteries
Year: 2025
