Sodium-ion batteries in 2026: overview
Sodium-ion batteries store and release energy by moving sodium ions between electrodes. Sodium’s broad availability makes this chemistry a candidate for cost-sensitive storage, while its performance depends on balancing energy density, cycle life, charging speed and safety. Researchers and developers are working across cathode structures, hard-carbon anodes and electrolytes to improve that balance. The central challenge is making promising material-level results work reliably in practical cells.
Recent work points to materials design and manufacturing as parallel priorities. September 2026 research includes an AI-guided framework for connecting material descriptors to full-cell decisions, inkjet-printed MoS₂/CNT electrodes and electrospun NASICON cathodes. In September 2026, Hithium introduced a sodium-ion cell and battery energy storage product line, a concrete sign of commercial activity alongside the lab work. The field is also pushing to stabilize electrode interfaces and compensate for sodium loss, issues that affect usable capacity and long-term performance.
- 1From materials to cells: AI-guided discovery and process-focused work are linking electrode design more directly to full-cell performance and manufacturability.
- 2Anode gains matter: Hard carbon remains a leading anode, while presodiation and alloy-based designs target sodium loss, capacity limits and faster charging.
- 3Storage moves forward: Grid and stationary storage activity is growing, while commercial product launches show sodium-ion technology moving beyond materials research.
Top organizations working on sodium-ion batteries
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to sodium-ion batteries. Showing 7 of 2,392 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd
Corporate · China |
General | PAT 214 · PUB 13 NEWS 442 |
+19% | Recently, it filed a patent covering a sodium-ion cell, positive-electrode sheet, and preparation methods, indicating work on cell and electrode design. |
| 2 | 
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
Research · China |
Layered oxide cathodes | PUB 361 · NEWS 17 | -8% | Recently, its researchers investigated designs for stabilizing layered oxide cathodes, addressing structural changes during phase transitions in sodium-ion cells. |
| 3 | 
Central South University
Research · China |
Hard-carbon anodes | PUB 320 · NEWS 9 | +3% | Recently, its researchers examined how amide bonds influence hard-carbon pore structure and interfacial stability, targeting anodes with improved sodium storage and cycling. |
| 4 | 
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research · China |
Layered oxide cathodes | PUB 221 | -11% | Recently, its researchers reported a lattice-mismatched intergrowth design for O3-type layered oxide cathodes, achieving 2,000-cycle stability. |
| 5 | 
Nankai University
Research · China |
Polyanion cathodes | PAT 1 · PUB 162 NEWS 30 |
-39% | It develops NASICON-type polyanion cathodes, including a sodium manganese-vanadium-chromium-titanium phosphate composition aimed at high energy density and cycling stability. |
| 6 | 
Guangdong University of Technology
Research · China |
Hard-carbon anodes | PUB 171 · NEWS 1 | -13% | Recently, its researchers chemically confined short-chain sulfur in hierarchical porous hard carbon to develop a stable, high-capacity sodium-storage anode. |
| 7 | 
BYD Company
Corporate · China |
General | PAT 27 · PUB 2 NEWS 275 |
-6% | BYD develops sodium-ion batteries alongside its broader battery and electric-vehicle business, with the chemistry suited to cost-sensitive mobility and energy-storage applications. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 26 total
Altris AbSwedenRecently, it partnered with Clarios and InoBat on sodium-ion batteries for low-voltage applications; the collaboration reported cold-cranking validation at −40°C and plans for pilot-scale and small-series production.
Tiamat EnergyFranceIt develops sodium-ion cells for high-power applications, including fast-charging designs. Its research partnerships include work on NASICON-type phosphate cathode compositions.
NorthvoltSwedenIts sodium-ion cell patents cover electrode-separator assemblies, cellulose separators, and cell-preparation methods.- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
Leading research institutions 1,847 total
- Chinese Academy of Sciences CASChinaRecently, its researchers investigated designs for stabilizing layered oxide cathodes, addressing structural changes during phase transitions in sodium-ion cells.
- Central South UniversityChinaRecently, its researchers examined how amide bonds influence hard-carbon pore structure and interfacial stability, targeting anodes with improved sodium storage and cycling.
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinaRecently, its researchers reported a lattice-mismatched intergrowth design for O3-type layered oxide cathodes, achieving 2,000-cycle stability.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where sodium-ion batteries innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 2,392 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layered oxide cathodes | Layered oxides can support high energy density, but phase changes and moisture sensitivity complicate structural stability and handling. | 1,527 |
Central South University, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd |
| Polyanion cathodes | Polyanion frameworks offer structural robustness and stable voltage, but can trade energy density for durability. | 2,266 |
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd, BYD Company, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS |
| Prussian blue analogues | Open frameworks can support rapid sodium-ion movement, while defects and residual water can undermine capacity and cycle stability. | 613 |
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd, Wenzhou University, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS |
| Hard-carbon anodes | Hard carbon is a practical sodium-storage anode, but irreversible sodium loss and limited capacity remain important constraints. | 3,411 |
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Central South University, Guangdong University of Technology |
| Alloying and conversion anodes | Alloying and conversion materials can raise anode capacity, but volume change can damage electrodes and shorten cycle life. | 690 |
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Central South University, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Solid-state electrolytes | Solid electrolytes may improve safety and enable new cell designs, but conductivity, interface contact and scalable processing remain difficult. | 2,857 |
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd, Central South University, BYD Company |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
The field has received $90,702,534 in grants across 107 grants since 2020. Funding-round data also lists 32 rounds, but the reported aggregate is not a reliable sodium-ion-specific total.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Sep 2026Hithium hosted a launch yesterday for its new sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery cell and energy storage system product line, promising a 30-year expected operational lifetime. In a pre-recorded video streamed live on…Energy Storage News
- Sep 2026After decades as a laboratory curiosity, sodium-ion battery technology (also called sodium ion battery technology) is having its breakthrough moment. In 2026 alone, the world’s largest battery makers started commercial…Intelligent Living
- Aug 2026Energy storage is the key to the clean energy transition. It is true that the sun does not always shine and the winds don’t always blow, but when they do, they make far more electricity than the electrical grid needs at…CleanTechnica
- Aug 2026French battery manufacturer Saft has signed a joint development agreement with US start-up Mana Battery covering anode-free sodium-ion cells for defence and critical-infrastructure applications. The companies will…Battery
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about sodium-ion batteries
What companies are working on sodium-ion batteries?
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd and BYD Company are prominent corporate participants; Contemporary Amperex has 669 recent-window documents and 214 patents. Other active organizations include SODIUM Ltd, Peak Energy Company and LG Corp. Their work spans cell and electrode development as well as grid storage and mobility applications.
Which sodium-ion battery startups are notable in 2026?
Altris Ab, Tiamat Energy and Northvolt are notable startups working on sodium-ion batteries. Altris focuses on Prussian blue analogues and has partnered with Clarios and InoBat on low-voltage applications. Tiamat develops high-power cells, including fast-charging designs. Northvolt’s patents cover cell assemblies, cellulose separators and preparation methods.
Which universities and research centers lead sodium-ion battery research?
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Central South University and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences are among the leading research organizations. Their work includes layered oxide stabilization, hard-carbon anodes and cathode designs. Nankai University, Argonne National Laboratory and Shanghai JiaoTong University are also active across cathode and materials research.
How much funding has sodium-ion batteries received?
Sodium-ion battery-related grants total $90,702,534 across 107 grants since 2020. This figure is the grant total, not a complete measure of private investment. Funding-round data lists 32 rounds, but its reported aggregate includes entries that may not represent sodium-ion-specific financing.
Who holds the most sodium-ion battery patents?
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd leads the listed patent holders with 214 patents. Samsung has 63, Qualcomm has 60, and Huawei has 55. Other listed holders include Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., New Energy Technology, OPPO Inc and Quectel.
Is sodium-ion battery patent activity growing?
No: patent activity declined 39.6% in the latest 12 months compared with the previous 12 months. Publication activity moved in the opposite direction, increasing 9.3% over that comparison. This contrast suggests research output remains active even as the patent trend has softened.
What are the latest developments in sodium-ion batteries?
September 2026 developments include Hithium’s launch of a sodium-ion cell and battery energy storage product line, alongside research on AI-guided materials discovery and electrospun NASICON cathodes. Recent work also targets high-voltage cathode degradation, interfacial stability and sodium compensation, all of which affect practical cell performance.
What are the main approaches in sodium-ion batteries?
The main approaches include layered oxide, polyanion and Prussian blue analogue cathodes, paired with hard-carbon, alloying or conversion anodes. Solid-state electrolytes are another research direction. These choices involve trade-offs: cathode structure affects stability and energy density, while anode capacity must be balanced against sodium loss and electrode durability.
What are the applications of sodium-ion batteries?
Applications include grid and stationary storage, electric vehicles, low-speed mobility, and backup or uninterruptible power. Grid and stationary storage is a particularly active area, with recent work and product launches targeting large-scale energy storage. Mobility applications remain part of the field, including electric vehicles and low-speed transport.
Which countries lead sodium-ion battery activity?
China leads the listed country totals with 21,336 documents, followed by the United States with 11,246 and Japan with 3,645. Germany and South Korea are also active, with 3,484 and 3,289 documents respectively. These totals show substantial activity across research, patents and industry.