Sodium-ion Batteries Anode Life Cycle Inventory Compilation and Literature Meta-Analysis

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been considered a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the utilisation of more abundant raw materials and potential for low-cost energy storage. Despite these advantages, SIB technology is currently in its early stages, with many cathode chemistries being investigated and most prototypes still using carbon-based anodes. Recent research has, nonetheless, expanded its focus on anode development to place special emphasis on acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the effects of multiple material choices on the environment. This thesis develops and investigates a life cycle inventory (LCI) for sodium-ion battery anode active materials. The database was used to conduct a preliminary life cycle assessment (LCA) for a lab-scale scenario of certain active materials under different regional power mixes of electricity, e.g., India, Europe (various energy mixes and renewable scenarios). Global warming potential (GWP) and Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP) or Resource depletion were two impact categories investigated to identify material production-based environmental hotspots. The results indicate that energy consumption is the dominant driver of environmental effects, especially in a fossil fuel–dominant energy composition, and critical mineral input emissions are another significant contributor. Finally, the electrochemical properties of the active materials greatly influence overall effects: less energy-dense cathodes mean more material quantity is required, which leads to higher energy consumption and emissions for production. These findings highlight the importance of harmonising material design with both performance improvement and low-carbon manufacturing strategies. Overall, this work contributes to the scientific understanding of SIBs through offering a systematic database and demonstrating its application in environmental analysis as a means of supporting academic research and the continued development of sustainable energy storage technology.