Hydration Boosts a Sodium Battery's Power—and Its Desalination Potential

Researchers at the University of Surrey found that keeping water in nanostructured sodium vanadate hydrate dramatically improves sodium-ion battery performance, delivering nearly twice the charge, faster charging, and stability over 400 cycles. The hydrated material also works in saltwater, enabling electrochemical desalination by drawing sodium from water while a graphite electrode removes chloride, suggesting future devices that store energy and purify seawater. While promising, the approach is early-stage and requires more testing before commercial use, but it strengthens sodium-ion technology as a cheaper, more sustainable alternative to lithium.