Microwave sintered High-Entropy Alloys as Sodium-ion Battery Anodes
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Percyroc AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 995 330 |
| Project duration | October 2022 - December 2024 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Competence centre |
Important results from the project
The SME-project was initiated within the frames of the Vinnova Competence center Batteries Sweden (BASE). The project goal was to produce high-entropy alloys using microwave sintering. These alloys have unique properties, and can be used in sodium-ion batteries. The microwave equipment was manufactured and samples were successfully sintered. With precise control of temperature, samples of varied composition can be produced in a process that takes minutes, instead of the usual days. The material, with its high capacity, can then be implemented as anode material in sodium-ion batteries.
Expected long term effects
Because high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have many desirable properties, they have received considerable attention in materials science and engineering. Microwave technology is a very time- and energy-efficient method for manufacturing materials. By being able to manufacture HEAs using microwaves, one can shorten the time for manufacturing from days to minutes, and then use this in e.g. Na-ion batteries. Other alloys for various applications can also be manufactured more sustainably with this method.
Approach and implementation
The structure of HEAs is particularly complex. The comparative example is a process that takes 80 hours. With microwave technology, this time could be shortened to minutes. It required a lot of optimization and development of the equipment, but the material was developed and at the end of the project great knowledge was gained about microwave sintering and how to get the best results. The alloy in this project is used as an anode material in Na-ion batteries, for a significantly higher capacity.