A new research partnership between Swansea University and the University of Limerick aims to drive innovation in battery technology.
The project combines Swansea’s expertise in battery materials and design with Limerick’s advancements in component development to create sodium-metal batteries that circumvent the need to handle sodium metal during manufacturing – the ‘anode-free’ solution.
“By using sodium – an abundant and widely available element – instead of lithium, we can develop batteries that are not only easier and more cost-effective to produce but will keep up with the upcoming boom in battery growth,” said Dr Ashley Willow, project co-lead and senior lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Swansea University.
“Looking further ahead in battery technology, anode-free sodium-metal batteries can store and deliver more energy than established batteries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP), with their lightweight design, making them ideal for battery use cases such as electric vehicles.
“Partnering with the University of Limerick allows us to accelerate this research, explore new ideas around extending the cycle life of anode-free batteries and bring us closer to the next generation of clean energy storage solutions.”
The Research Alliance Award has allocated €73,155 to the Swansea-Limerick initiative as part of a wider €584,378 investment supporting eight collaborative projects between Wales and Ireland.
Image: The Swansea-Limerick project supports long-term energy resilience and industrial sustainability across Wales and Ireland
