The young Chinese scientist behind an ‘impossible’ breakthrough on sodium batteries

Professor Lu Yaxiang, a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics, has dedicated ten years to making sodium-ion batteries commercially viable. Her work in energy storage led to her receiving the China Youth May Fourth Medal in April, a prestigious national honor for individuals under 35. While lithium-ion batteries have dominated the market, their raw materials are scarce and difficult to extract. Sodium-ion batteries are considered an alternative, but have historically suffered from lower energy density. Lu's research focused on materials innovation to improve their performance, recognizing the importance of abundant and inexpensive sodium for China's energy security.