New Sodium-Air Fuel Cell Could Triple Battery Power for Electric Planes
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📰 The quick summary: MIT researchers developed a sodium-air fuel cell with triple the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, potentially enabling electric aircraft while capturing carbon dioxide from the air.
📈 One key stat: The sodium-air fuel cell stores more than three times as much energy per kilogram as lithium-ion batteries, potentially reaching the 1,000 watt-hours per kilogram threshold needed for practical electric aviation.
💬 One key quote: “We expect people to think that this is a totally crazy idea. If they didn’t, I’d be a bit disappointed because if people don’t think something is totally crazy at first, it probably isn’t going to be that revolutionary.” says Chiang, the Kyocera Professor of Ceramics.
1️⃣ The big picture: MIT researchers have created an innovative sodium-air fuel cell that could overcome the energy density limitations of current batteries. This fuel cell uses liquid sodium metal and common air to generate electricity, producing three times more energy per kilogram than lithium-ion batteries used in today’s electric vehicles. The technology shows particular promise for aviation, where weight concerns have prevented widespread electric flight adoption. Unlike batteries that need slow recharging, these fuel cells can be quickly refueled with sodium metal, which melts at just below water’s boiling point. Their emissions consist of sodium compounds that actually capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The technology could finally make electric aviation practical, potentially covering 80 percent of domestic flights while reducing 30 percent of aviation emissions. Sodium is abundant worldwide, derived from common salt, avoiding the supply chain and extraction concerns associated with lithium. The fuel cell system actually captures carbon dioxide from the air during operation, producing sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as a byproduct that can help de-acidify oceans. The system offers inherent safety advantages over batteries since only one reactive component is present, reducing risks of catastrophic failures that can occur when two concentrated reactants are separated by a thin membrane.
3️⃣ What’s next: Members of the research team have already formed a company called Propel Aero to bring the technology to market. They plan to develop a brick-sized fuel cell within the next year that can deliver 1,000 watt-hours of energy – enough to power large drones. The system will use refillable cartridges that can be returned to stations for refueling with fresh sodium.
Read the full story here: SciTechDaily – MIT’s Sodium Fuel Cell Powers Planes, Captures Carbon, and Outruns Batteries
