Chinese scientist Lu Yaxiang, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics, has spent ten years developing sodium-ion batteries with the goal of making them commercially viable. This breakthrough was highlighted among seven notable news stories across Hong Kong, mainland China, and the wider Asia region this week.

The development marks a significant step in battery technology, potentially offering an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The news was reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on July 17, 2026.

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