California battery tech firm Natron Energy is to evaluate its ‘Prussian blue electrode sodium-ion’ chemistry for grid storage under an agreement with French power multinational EDF.
Natron— formerly Alveo Energy, founded in 2012 as a Stanford University spin-off— said testing and evaluation of its patented technology, based on Prussian blue analogue electrodes and a sodium-ion electrolyte, would be conducted at EDF laboratories in France.
“Prussian blue dye, commonly used in blueprints, is very effective in storing and releasing energy in the form of sodium ions,” Natron said.
The company said its battery tech uses Prussian blue pigment in both electrodes. “Its unique structure and composition enable extremely high rates of sustained charge and discharge for tens of thousands of cycles, while placing zero strain on the material,” Natron said.
The company claims its batteries “provide improved safety compared to incumbent technology as they can survive hard short circuit and sustained overcharge with no damage, while recharging in as little as 30 minutes”.
Natron said its batteries have been non-flammable during tests for nail penetration and external heat tolerance.
Natron’s vice-president for business development, Salil Soman, said the work with EDF would “further validate” the company’s technology as “a viable alternative to the costlier lithium-ion and the incumbent lead-acid batteries in use today”.
