Context: Research breakthroughs this year have propelled Sodium-ion batteries into the mainstream. Unlike lithium, sodium is abundant (it's in salt!) and safer. This week, we saw the launch of the Engineering+ Sustainability Institute at UC Irvine, focusing specifically on closing the loop for critical materials like these.
For Discussion:
"Given the recent 2026 breakthroughs in sodium-ion energy density and the push for 'green' ammonia synthesis, which energy storage technology do you believe will define the next decade of Civil and Electrical infrastructure? Is the infrastructure ready for a wholesale shift away from Lithium-ion, or are we underestimating the 'recycling gap' for these new chemistries?"
