Principles and Cell Structure
Follow sodium ions and electrons during charge and discharge to understand the roles of the cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator, current collectors, and external circuit.
The question this page answers
What actually moves inside a battery?
Section 01
How charge and discharge work
During charge, sodium ions leave the cathode and enter the anode while electrons travel through the external circuit. Discharge reverses the process and powers the load; the detailed reactions depend on the selected electrode materials.
Section 02
Six essential component groups
Cell performance emerges from materials and engineering together. Electrodes host the main reactions, electrolyte and separator provide ionic transport and insulation, current collectors conduct electrons, and the enclosure and safety features maintain mechanical integrity.
Section 03
Why interfaces matter
Complex interphases form where electrodes contact the electrolyte. Their stability affects initial efficiency, impedance growth, cycle life, and safety, so materials cannot be evaluated independently of electrolyte and process.
Knowledge tree / Level 3
Topic guides
Choose a focused topic to continue from this knowledge center.
Charge and discharge mechanism
A step-by-step view of ion and electron movement.
Cell components
Functions of every major cell component.
SEI and CEI
How interphases affect life and safety.
Voltage, capacity, and energy
Relationships among three core electrical metrics.
Related knowledge
Continue through the knowledge map
Sodium-ion Fundamentals
Start with resources, technology positioning, and practical limits: why sodium-ion batteries matter, which problems they may address, and how they differ from lithium-ion and sodium-sulfur systems.
Read center →K03Materials and Chemistry Routes
A structured map of cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, separators, current collectors, binders, conductive additives, and presodiation—and how their interactions shape performance, cost, and manufacturing.
Read center →K06Performance, Safety, and Testing
Build a consistent understanding of energy density, cycle life, rate, efficiency, low-temperature behavior, and safety testing without mixing half-cell, cell, module, and system-level data.
Read center →