Flow Research

Desalination

The two most common desalination technologies are thermal and membrane-based. The thermal process heats saline water to create water vapor, which is condensed into fresh water. Membrane processes use semi-permeable membranes to remove salts from water, usually through reverse osmosis. This involves forcing water under pressure through the membrane, which blocks the salt but allows clean water to pass. The salt can now be collected and prepped for electrolysis.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a process where an electric current is passed through a substance in water to break it into its components. For salt (sodium chloride), the current separates it into sodium and chlorine. Electrodes are used in the process: one attracts positive ions, and the other attracts negative ions. This causes the elements to split and collect separately.

Alternatives to Sodium-Ion

Several alternatives to sodium-ion are often considered, including lithium-ion solid-state batteries (SSBs). Lithium-ion is valued for its success in liquid batteries and its role in advancing energy storage. However, it is less sustainable for SSBs due to the scarcity of lithium and its high production costs. Sodium-ion, by contrast, has higher conductivity, is less expensive to produce, and relies on abundant sodium, a key element in Earth's composition. This abundance makes sodium-ion SSBs a more practical option for large-scale production.

Another alternative to sodium-ion SSBs is the LLZO-SSB, made from garnet and lithium, which offers high energy density and improved safety compared to lithium-ion SSBs. However, this option was rejected after further research revealed challenges with large-scale production. The high cost of mining garnet and lithium makes manufacturing LLZO-SSBs impractical despite their advantages. In contrast, sodium-ion SSBs, though they have lower energy density, are significantly cheaper and easier to produce. These factors make sodium-ion SSBs a more practical and efficient choice.