WND startup advances sodium-ion battery technology for emerging markets

A workshop run by SIMT in WND. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

Sodium Innovation Material Technology, a sodium-ion battery materials company based in Wuxi National Hi-Tech District, or WND, is accelerating the commercialization of next-generation battery technology.

The company was founded by overseas-returned doctoral researcher Liu Zhongqing. Explaining why he chose Wuxi, Liu said the city's strong industrial foundation in equipment manufacturing and new materials, together with its concentration of listed companies and strong engineer culture, perfectly matched the needs of sodium battery technology development.

What impressed him even more is Wuxi's support for talent and technological innovation, Liu said.

In 2024, the company shifted its focus toward the more technically challenging sodium iron sulfate battery materials. The team successfully overcame key technical obstacles including battery cell swelling, gas generation, and poor high-temperature cycling performance, helping remove major barriers to the large-scale commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.

Technicians work at SIMT. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

Rather than competing directly in mainstream sectors, SIMT has adopted a differentiated development strategy targeting niche markets such as light electric mobility and consumer electronics. Its sodium iron sulfate materials are being applied in electric two-wheelers, electric tricycles, and scooters for elderly users.

The company also plans to focus on developing large-format anode-free soft-pack batteries, expanding into applications including high-power industrial equipment, large-scale energy storage systems, and backup power supplies for artificial intelligence data centers.