Researchers at Tokyo University of Science found that sodium-ion batteries can charge faster than lithium-ion batteries when using hard carbon anodes. By applying a diluted electrode method, the team revealed that sodium ions move and insert into hard carbon more quickly than lithium ions. The study shows that sodium’s lower energy barrier during pore-filling enables higher charging rates. These results highlight sodium-ion batteries as not only cheaper alternatives, but also potentially superior in fast-charging applications.
