The study, which has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, says the reason for the boosted energy storage has to do with the fact that the extra water allowed the material's layers to spread out slightly, giving the sodium ions more room to move in and. The study, which has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, says the reason for the boosted energy storage has to do with the fact that the extra water allowed the material's layers to spread out slightly, giving the sodium ions more room to move in and. Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a promising option for cleaner, more sustainable energy storage. Researchers at the University of Surrey have identified a surprisingly simple way to improve their performance by keeping water inside a critical battery material instead of removing it. The cathodes were created out of a compound that is continuously being explored for use in these. With the rising need for affordable and sustainable energy storage solutions, sodium-ion batteries are increasingly being considered as a promising alternative to the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries. The. The objective of SI 2030 is to develop specific and quantifiable research, development, and deployment (RD&D) pathways to achieve the targets identified in the Long-Duration Storage Shot, which seeks to achieve 90% cost reductions for technologies that can provide 10 hours or longer of energy. However, new research shows that keeping water inside a key cathode material can sharply boost sodium-ion battery performance and narrow the gap with lithium-ion cells.