BRITE Pivot: Manufacturing Next Generation Low-Cost High-Capacity Batteries

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $598,503 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Sodium-based batteries are emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which face high costs and limited lithium supply. Sodium is more abundant; in the US alone, there are 23 billion tons of soda ash that could be used to produce sodium. Sodium batteries can be more cost-effective, perform better in cold weather, and may endure more charging and discharging cycles. While sodium-based batteries offer many advantages, one key area of improvement at room temperature is addressing dendrite formation, which can impact safety and performance. To overcome this problem, liquid sodium-potassium anodes have been proposed. However, there has not been a viable manufacturing process to fabricate liquid metal anodes. This BRITE Pivot award supports fundamental research aimed at developing a scalable manufacturing technology for liquid metal anodes in sodium batteries. If successful, it will pave the way for large-scale production of next-generation rechargeable batteries that are low-cost, high-capacity, and reliable—unlocking new economic opportunities in the advanced manufacturing sector. This award supports an integrated experimental and theoretical study to address key challenges in a new battery manufacturing process, including ion diffusion limitations, irregular electrodeposition fronts, and the precise control of multi-metal deposition ratios required to form desired liquid metal alloys. This new process involves complex electrochemical phenomena that are not

Key facts

NSF award ID
2527490
Awardee
University of Texas at Austin (TX)
SAM.gov UEI
V6AFQPN18437
PI
Wei Li
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
MFG MACHINES & METROLOGY, NANOMANUFACTURING, GRADUATE EDUCATION, Advanced Materials Processing, UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION, MANUFACTURING
Estimated total
$598,503
Funds obligated
$598,503
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028