简单盐浓度调整推动钠电池突破500次循环，容量保持率达70%

Core Insights - A research team led by Hong Kong universities has announced a breakthrough in sodium battery technology, addressing the instability issues that have hindered its development for decades [3][4] - The new design allows for a charging rate of 10C and maintains over 70% capacity after 500 charge-discharge cycles, significantly improving the performance of sodium batteries [3][4] Group 1: Breakthrough in Sodium Battery Technology - The research team, including Lingnan University and Tsinghua University, has solved the critical issues of short-circuiting and capacity drop during fast charging by increasing the electrolyte salt concentration [3][4] - This adjustment enables sodium ions to deposit in a smoother and more controlled manner, enhancing safety and longevity while drastically improving charging speed [3][4] Group 2: Economic and Environmental Benefits - Sodium, being more abundant and cheaper than lithium, could significantly reduce the costs associated with electric vehicles and energy storage systems [4][9] - The cost of sodium is less than one-tenth that of lithium, and its availability in seawater makes it a more sustainable option for future energy solutions [4][9] Group 3: Challenges Ahead - Despite the significant advancements, sodium batteries still face challenges such as needing to improve cycle life by 2-3 times to compete with lithium-ion batteries and the high cost and lower conductivity of high-concentration electrolytes [6] - Energy density remains a barrier, as sodium's energy storage capacity per kilogram is still inferior to that of lithium [6] Group 4: Alignment with Global Goals - The research aligns with global and local energy transition needs, supporting greener and more economical mobile solutions while reducing dependence on imported lithium [9] - The project is in line with Hong Kong's carbon neutrality and electrification goals, as well as the United Nations' sustainable development objectives for clean energy and climate action [9]