Advantages and Sustainability of Sodium-Ion Batteries Integrated with Fire Suppressants: A Pathway to Safer and Greener Energy Storage

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining attention as safer and cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, but challenges remain in improving their safety, performance, and sustainability. This study explores advancements in electrolyte additives, polymer electrolytes, separators, and poly-ionic membranes to enhance SIB efficiency and safety. Sodium bis(oxalato)borate (NaBOB) was identified as a non-flammable and fluoride-free alternative to toxic NaPF6 in trimethyl phosphate (TMP), achieving thermal stability up to 300°C, high ionic conductivity (5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹), and 97% coulombic efficiency. Incorporating vinylene carbonate (VC) mitigates discharge capacity degradation over cycling. Flexible polymer electrolytes, such as PPEGMA-gel systems, demonstrate resilience to mechanical shocks with a capacity retention of 91% after 400 cycles and a wide voltage range of 4.8 V, though high-temperature performance requires further investigation. Organic electrolyte blends with 10 vol% fluoroethylene