Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Hugh Smith is developing sodium-ion batteries designed to provide a more sustainable and lower-cost alternative to conventional lithium-ion energy storage, according to reporting published by MIT.
Smith, a fifth-year PhD candidate in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, focuses on replacing critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt with widely available elements including sodium, iron, and manganese. The research aims to reduce battery production costs for applications like electrical grids and lower-cost electric vehicles while utilizing existing lithium-ion manufacturing infrastructure.
Balancing Performance and Cost
Developing effective energy storage requires managing trade-offs between battery characteristics. While smartphone batteries require high energy density and long lifespans in compact formats, power grid storage prioritizes affordability and long-term reliability over weight or size. Smith works to optimize battery components across cost, performance, sustainability, and reliability based on specific end-use applications.
Before beginning his doctoral studies at MIT, the Albany, New York native earned an undergraduate degree in materials science from Case Western Reserve University. He then spent seven months working alongside multidisciplinary teams at the Battery Innovation Center in Newberry, Indiana.
Upon arriving at MIT, Smith joined Professor Iwnetim Abate’s research group as its first graduate student and helped establish the laboratory. Smith plans to graduate in the winter and pursue a career in battery research and development. Outside the laboratory, he participates in soccer, ultimate frisbee, football, and volleyball through MIT’s intramural sports program, and goes fishing around the Boston area.
