A National Science Foundation grant to Michigan Technological University will allow research into the feasibility of sodium batteries.  With sodium atoms about 70% larger than lithium atoms, the impact on a battery's electrodes is an obvious issue.  The Mich Tech project will use a transmission electron microscope to study how a sodium battery would charge or discharge at the atomic scale level.  After lithium it's the most attractive element to be used in batteries," said Reza Shahbazian-Yassar, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, MTU.  This effort would provide an answer to those who believe lithium is too rare a substance on which to base an entire industry.  On the other hand, that is what they said about lead when lead acid batteries were first introduced.