Fake Sodium Ion cells - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Drachenfels
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 24, 2025, 08:55:49 pm
content: I wanted to try and obtain some sodium ion cells to have a play around with.I'd read that they are much safer than Lithium based cells.I found a listing on Alipexpress for some 20Ah sodium ion cells branded SUYIJIA.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008645341414.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.66441802seKruMI purchased 5, however on 3 of them, the label says Material: 18650 lithium-ion battery.On 2 of them, the label indicating + and - was reversed.Alarm bells immediately started ringing for me that I'd been scammed.After trying to charge them to 3.9V, the voltage settles at 3.7V after a few hours.After performing a discharge test to 1.5V as indicated on the labels, they appear to have a nominal voltage of 3.2V - which would mean that they are most likely LifePo4They do appear to be 20Ah though.Besides disassembling them and using a XRay metal analyzer, or burning them, is there anything else I can do determine what they are?

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 02:46:32 am
content: Quote from: Drachenfels on May 24, 2025, 08:55:49 pmDo you have some pictures of that?I wonder if some sellers might be declaring them as lion in shipping, to avoid any "what's sodium ion" questioning and since they are AFAIK not any more dangerous than lion cells.

author: Drachenfels
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 08:13:53 am
content: Here are the cells side by side. One labeled sodium ion, one as lithium ion.The nominal voltage is 3.2v not 3v and not 3.7v though.I weighed all the cells, and they are all about 530gI found some cell specs that seem to match what I have here:https://www.batterydesign.net/catl-46145-lfp/Nominal voltage = 3.2Vdischarge cutoff voltage = 2.5Vcharge cutoff voltage = 3.6VNominal capacity = 20AhNominal energy = 64WhDimensionsdiameter = 46mmheight = 145mmWeight = 0.53kgChemistry = Lithium Iron PhosphateI discharged at CC of 0.25C, or 5A.I'm going to try and get a discharge curve graph, and I'll upload that too.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 09:41:56 am
content: It does seem like they are LiFePO4.Clearly the one on the left is mislabelled as it is not an 18650 cell.The seller seems to have a poor rating on AE, and their avatar is certainly a red flag.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 09:52:21 am
content: No reviews for this specific product, and their account in general has many bad feedbacks.Errors on the label, different chemistry even specified on some labels, voltages don't match....Clearly they are not Sodium Ion, and the seller knows it.Try and get your money back, at least with the bad labels it might be easier.I would only buy from an Aliexpress vendor that has people who have legitimate sounding reviews preferably with photos showing some measurement of the cell, even if it's just a voltage measurement you at least know that it's somebody who hassomeknowledge.

author: Drachenfels
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 10:01:57 am
content: I opened up a returns request, but they've sent me a Royal Mail postage label (Royal mail don't allow lithium ion cells to be shipped with them) I've now requested a full refund and I will dispose of batteries.Alix said that they'd open an investigation (whatever that means)Worst case, I'll request a charge back on my credit card.IMHO the seller should be kicked off the platform.Hakadi seem to be a bit more of a legitimate vendor. Has anyone purchased from them?https://hakadibattery.com/collections/sodium-ion-battery-cells-3vAny other recommendations where to get Sodium Ion batteries from?

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 10:27:59 am
content: Quote from: Drachenfels on May 25, 2025, 10:01:57 am

author: Drachenfels
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 01:23:38 pm
content: Here's my first attempt at doing a discharge curve on 2 cellsThe first labelled Sodium-Ion, the second labelled 18650 Lithium-IonHad a few problems with software, as it would randomly give a 0 reading.Voltage in Blue (approx 3.2V on average)Current in Red (CC 5A)

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2025, 03:00:05 am
content: The "falling off a cliff" definitively shows that it's not sodium ion.