Assessment of the first commercial Prussian blue based sodium-ion battery

Novel sodium-ion battery technologies have emerged in recent years and are considered as potential alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale stationary storage applications. Among different sodium-ion cell chemistries, Prussian blue analogues (PBA) have advantages of excellent electrochemical stability, low cost, and high-rate capability, thanks to their open-framework lattice suitable for sodium-ion intercalation. The present study assesses the first commercial Prussian blue-based sodium-ion pluggable battery module developed and refined in a joint design effort between Natron Energy and ABB, offering insights into the competitiveness and maturity of sodium-ion technologies. Both single cells and battery modules (32 cells in series) are evaluated and compared with other commercial batteries. Natron's sodium-ion battery cells possess performance characteristics between lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors in terms of power capability, energy density, and cycle life. In addition, the Natron sodium-ion battery technology shows excellent safety and sustainability features that are not dependent on rare earth elements, critical mining processes, or questionable supply chain implications.