Research Development on Sodium-Ion Batteries

Understanding hydrothermal transformation from Mn2O3 particles to Na0.55Mn2O4·1.5H2O nanosheets, nanobelts, and single crystalline ultra-long Na4Mn9O18 nanowires

Manganese oxides are one of the most valuable materials for batteries, fuel cells and catalysis. Herein, we report the change in morphology and phase of as-synthesized Mn₂O₃ by inserting Na⁺ ions. In particular, Mn₂O₃ nanoparticles were first transformed to 2 nm thin Na_0.55Mn₂O₄·1.5H₂O nanosheets and nanobelts via hydrothermal exfoliation and Na cation intercalation, and finally to sub-mm ultra-long single crystalline Na₄Mn₉O₁₈ nanowires. This paper reports the morphology and phase-dependent magnetic and catalytic (CO oxidation) properties of the as-synthesized nanostructured Na intercalated Mn-based materials.

Potassium-Ion Oxygen Battery Based on a High Capacity Antimony Anode

Recent investigations into the application of potassium in the form of potassium-oxygen, potassium-sulfur, and potassium-ion batteries represent a new approach to moving beyond current lithium-ion technology. Herein, we report on a high capacity anode material for use in potassium-oxygen and potassium-ion batteries. An antimony-based electrode exhibits a reversible storage capacity of 650 mAh/g (98% of theoretical capacity, 660 mAh/g) corresponding to the formation of a cubic K3Sb alloy. The Sb electrode can cycle for over 50 cycles at a capacity of 250 mAh/g, which is one of the highest reported capacities for a potassium-ion anode material. X-ray diffraction and galvanostatic techniques were used to study the alloy structure and cycling performance, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to provide insight into the thermodynamics and kinetics of the K-Sb alloying reaction. Finally, we explore the application of this anode material in the form of a K3Sb-O2 cell which displays relatively high operating voltages, low overpotentials, increased safety, and interfacial stability, effectively demonstrating its applicability to the field of metal oxygen batteries.

Sulfur-Doped Carbon with Enlarged Interlayer Distance as a High-Performance Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries

S-doped carbon is investigated as a high-performance anode material for sodium-ion batteries. Due to the introduction of a high-content of S atoms, the as-obtained S-doped carbon shows an enlarged interlayer distance. As an anode, a high specific capacity of up to 303 mAh g-1 is achieved, even after 700 cycles at 0.5 A g-1.

A frogspawn-inspired hierarchical porous NaTi2(PO4)3-C array for high-rate and long-life aqueous rechargeable sodium batteries

Hollow micro/nano-arrays have attracted tremendous attention in the field of energy conversion and storage, but such structures usually compromise the volumetric energy density of the electrode materials. Frogspawn consists of a spawn core and a transparent jelly shell organized in a hierarchical porous array, which exhibits superior mechanical strength and high-efficiency oxygen permeability. It can be used as a model for designing a new high-performance electrode material, which has advantages such as a high surface area, fast mass transport and superior durability. Herein, we report a frogspawn-like NaTi2(PO4)3/C array prepared by a facile preform impregnation strategy. The framework is formed by a hollow carbon sphere connected by the NaTi2(PO4)3/C skeleton, and its hollow is filled with the NaTi2(PO4)3 nanospheres. The whole hierarchical porous three-dimensional array copies the structure of a frogspawn. This unique structure not only enables easy electrolyte percolation and fast electron/ion transport, but also enhances the reversible capacity and cycling durability. When it is applied as an anode of the aqueous sodium ion battery, it exhibits favorable high rate capability and superior cycling stability, and retains 89% of the initial capacity after two thousand cycles at 20 C. Moreover, the full cell using the frogspawn-inspired NaTi2(PO4)3-C as the anode and Na0.44MnO2 as the cathode is capable of ultralong cycling up to one thousand cycles at alternate 10 and 60 C, which is among the best of state-of-the-art aqueous sodium ion systems. Therefore, the frogspawn-inspired architecture provides a new strategy to the tailored design of polyanion materials for high-power applications.

A Highly Reversible Room-Temperature Sodium Metal Anode

Owing to its low cost and high natural abundance, sodium metal is among the most promising anode materials for energy storage technologies beyond lithium ion batteries. However, room-temperature sodium metal anodes suffer from poor reversibility during long-term plating and stripping, mainly due to formation of nonuniform solid electrolyte interphase as well as dendritic growth of sodium metal. Herein we report for the first time that a simple liquid electrolyte, sodium hexafluorophosphate in glymes (mono-, di-, and tetraglyme), can enable highly reversible and nondendritic plating-stripping of sodium metal anodes at room temperature. High average Coulombic efficiencies of 99.9% were achieved over 300 plating-stripping cycles at 0.5 mA cm(-2). The long-term reversibility was found to arise from the formation of a uniform, inorganic solid electrolyte interphase made of sodium oxide and sodium fluoride, which is highly impermeable to electrolyte solvent and conducive to nondendritic growth. As a proof of concept, we also demonstrate a room-temperature sodium-sulfur battery using this class of electrolytes, paving the way for the development of next-generation, sodium-based energy storage technologies.

Two-Dimensional Tin Disulfide Nanosheets for Enhanced Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as complementary alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for grid energy storage due to the abundance of sodium. However, low capacity, poor rate capability, and cycling stability of existing anodes significantly hinder the practical applications of SIBs. Herein, ultrathin two-dimensional SnS2 nanosheets (3-4 nm in thickness) are synthesized via a facile refluxing process toward enhanced sodium storage. The SnS2 nanosheets exhibit a high apparent diffusion coefficient of Na(+) and fast sodiation/desodiation reaction kinetics. In half-cells, the nanosheets deliver a high reversible capacity of 733 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1), which still remains up to 435 mAh g(-1) at 2 A g(-1). The cell has a high capacity retention of 647 mA h g(-1) during the 50th cycle at 0.1 A g(-1), which is by far the best for SnS2, suggesting that nanosheet morphology is beneficial to improve cycling stability in addition to rate capability. The SnS2 nanosheets also show encouraging performance in a full cell with a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode. In addition, the sodium storage mechanism is investigated by ex situ XRD coupled with high-resolution TEM. The high specific capacity, good rate capability, and cycling durability suggest that SnS2 nanosheets have great potential working as anodes for high-performance SIBs.

Synergetic Effect of Yolk-Shell Structure and Uniform Mixing of SnS-MoS₂ Nanocrystals for Improved Na-Ion Storage Capabilities

Mixed metal sulfide composite microspheres with a yolk-shell structure for sodium-ion batteries are studied. Tin-molybdenum oxide yolk-shell microspheres prepared by a one-pot spray pyrolysis process transform into yolk-shell SnS-MoS2 composite microspheres. The discharge capacities of the yolk-shell and dense-structured SnS-MoS2 composite microspheres for the 100th cycle are 396 and 207 mA h g(-1), and their capacity retentions measured from the second cycle are 89 and 47%, respectively. The yolk-shell SnS-MoS2 composite microspheres with high structural stability during repeated sodium insertion and desertion processes have low charge-transfer resistance even after long-term cycling. The synergetic effect of the yolk-shell structure and uniform mixing of the SnS and MoS2 nanocrystals result in the excellent sodium-ion storage properties of the yolk-shell SnS-MoS2 composite microspheres by improving their structural stability during cycling.

2D Electrides as Promising Anode Materials for Na-Ion Batteries from First-Principles Study

Searching for suitable anodes with good performance is a key challenge for rechargeable Na-ion batteries (NIBs). Using the first-principles method, we predict that 2D nitrogen electride materials can be served as anode materials for NIBs. Particularly, we show that Ca2N meets almost all the requirements of a good NIB anode. Each formula unit of a monolayer Ca2N sheet can absorb up to four Na atoms, corresponding to a theoretical specific capacity of 1138 mAh·g(-1). The metallic character for both pristine Ca2N and its Na intercalated state NaxCa2N ensures good electronic conduction. Na diffusion along the 2D monolayer plane can be very fast even at room temperature, with a Na migration energy barrier as small as 0.084 eV. These properties are key to the excellent rate performance of an anode material. The average open-circuit voltage is calculated to be 0.18 V vs Na/Na(+) for the chemical stoichiometry of Na2Ca2N and 0.09 V for Na4Ca2N. The relatively low average open-circuit voltage is beneficial to the overall voltage of the cell. In addition, the 2D monolayers have very small lattice change upon Na intercalation, which ensures a good cycling stability. All these results demonstrate that the Ca2N monolayer could be an excellent anode material for NIBs.

Photopolymer Electrolytes for Sustainable, Upscalable, Safe, and Ambient-Temperature Sodium-Ion Secondary Batteries

The first example of a photopolymerized electrolyte for a sodium-ion battery is proposed herein. By means of a preparation process free of solvents, catalysts, purification steps, and separation steps, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional polymeric network capable of efficient sodium-ion transport. The thermal properties of the resulting solid electrolyte separator, characterized by means of thermogravimetric and calorimetric techniques, are excellent for use in sustainable energy systems conceived for safe large-scale grid storage. The photopolymerized electrolyte shows a wide electrochemical stability window up to 4.8 V versus Na/Na(+) along with the highest ionic conductivity (5.1 mS cm(-1) at 20 °C) obtained in the field of Na-ion polymer batteries so far and stable long-term constant-current charge/discharge cycling. Moreover, the polymeric networks are also demonstrated for the in situ fabrication of electrode/electrolyte composites with excellent interfacial properties, which are ideal for all-solid-state, safe, and easily upscalable device assembly.

Tin Nanodots Encapsulated in Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanofibers as a Free-Standing Anode for Advanced Sodium-Ion Batteries

Ultrasmall Sn nanodots (1-2 nm) are homogeneously encapsulated in porous N-doped carbon nanofibers using a simple and scalable electrospinning method. The composite nanofibers weave into flexible free-standing membrane and can be directly used as binder- and current collector-free anode for Na-ion batteries, exhibiting excellent electrochemical performance with high reversible capacity, exceptional rate capability, and ultralong cycle life.

Hierarchical carbon framework wrapped Na3V2(PO4)3 as a superior high-rate and extended lifespan cathode for sodium-ion batteries

Hierarchical carbon framework wrapped Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 (HCF-NVP) is successfully synthesized through chemical vapor deposition on pure Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 particles. Electrochemical experiments show that the HCF-NVP electrode can deliver a large reversible capacity (115 mA h g(-1) at 0.2 C), superior high-rate rate capability (38 mA h g(-1) at 500 C), and ultra-long cycling stability (54% capacity retention after 20 000 cycles).

Direct Observation of an Anomalous Spinel-to-Layered Phase Transition Mediated by Crystal Water Intercalation

The phase transition of layered manganese oxides to spinel phases is a well-known phenomenon in rechargeable batteries and is the main origin of the capacity fading in these materials. This spontaneous phase transition is associated with the intrinsic properties of manganese, such as its size, preferred crystal positions, and reaction characteristics, and it is therefore very difficult to avoid. The introduction of crystal water by an electrochemical process enables the inverse phase transition from spinel to a layered Birnessite structure. Scanning transmission electron microscopy can be used to directly visualize the rearrangement of lattice atoms, the simultaneous insertion of crystal water, the formation of a transient structure at the phase boundary, and layer-by-layer progression of the phase transition from the edge. This research indicates that crystal water intercalation can reverse phase transformation with thermodynamically favored directionality.

Ion insertion into individual 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane nanoparticles

We report the quantification of partial ion insertion into individual 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane nanoparticles. It is shown that both potassium and sodium ions can be inserted into single TCNQ nanoparticles from aqueous solution. The extent of both potassium and sodium insertion into individual nanoparticles is quantitatively measured and shown to be partial and sodium ion shows a higher extent of insertion. The insertion process is inferred to be limited and controlled by the formation of a thin shell of salt, Na(+)/K(+) TCNQ˙(-) formed at the surface of the nanoparticle.

Recent Advances and Prospects of Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) receive significant attention for electrochemical energy storage and conversion owing to their wide availability and the low cost of Na resources. However, SIBs face challenges of low specific energy, short cycling life, and insufficient specific power, owing to the heavy mass and large radius of Na(+) ions. As an important component of SIBs, cathode materials have a significant effect on the SIB electrochemical performance. The most recent advances and prospects of inorganic and organic cathode materials are summarized here. Among current cathode materials, layered transition-metal oxides achieve high specific energies around 600 mW h g(-1) owing to their high specific capacities of 180-220 mA h g(-1) and their moderate operating potentials of 2.7-3.2 V (vs Na(+) /Na). Porous Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 /C nanomaterials exhibit excellent cycling performance with almost 100% retention over 1000 cycles owing to their robust structural framework. Recent emerging cathode materials, such as amorphous NaFePO4 and pteridine derivatives show interesting electrochemical properties and attractive prospects for application in SIBs. Future work should focus on strategies to enhance the overall performance of cathode materials in terms of specific energy, cycling life, and rate capability with cationic doping, anionic substitution, morphology fabrication, and electrolyte matching.

Novel sodium/lithium-ion anode material based on ultrathin Na2Ti2O4(OH)2 nanosheet

Ultrathin Na2Ti2O4(OH)2 nanosheets of ∼8 nm thickness were prepared by a facile method for the first time. The resulting material was also used as a conducting agent and binder-free anode, both for sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries, for the first time. The Na2Ti2O4(OH)2 nanosheets exhibited excellent Na/Li-ion storage performance. A long-term cycling performance of the ultrathin Na2Ti2O4(OH)2 nanosheets of 120 mA h g(-1) at ∼10C was retained after 500 cycles for sodium-ion batteries, and 150 mA h g(-1) at ∼1C was kept after 500 cycles for lithium-ion batteries. By comparison, the Na-ion storage performance is much better than the Li-ion storage performance of the Na2Ti2O4(OH)2 nanosheets anode, because of the existence of Na in the Na2Ti2O4(OH)2 host.

A quinary layer transition metal oxide of NaNi1/4Co1/4Fe1/4Mn1/8Ti1/8O2 as a high-rate-capability and long-cycle-life cathode material for rechargeable sodium ion batteries

A well-crystallized single-phase quinary layer transition metal oxide of NaNi1/4Co1/4Fe1/4Mn1/8Ti1/8O2 was successfully synthesized. It exhibited excellent cycle performance and high rate capability as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Graphene-Wrapped Anatase TiO2 Nanofibers as High-Rate and Long-Cycle-Life Anode Material for Sodium Ion Batteries

Anatase TiO₂ has been suggested as a potential sodium anode material, but the low electrical conductivity of TiO₂ often limits the rate capability, resulting in poor electrochemical properties. To address this limitation, we propose graphene-wrapped anatase TiO₂ nanofibers (rGO@TiO₂ NFs) through an effective wrapping of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets on electrospun TiO₂ NFs. To provide strong electrostatic interaction between the graphene oxide (GO) sheets and the TiO₂ NFs, poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was used to induce a positively charged TiO₂ surface by the immobilization of the -NH₃⁺ group and to promote bonding with the negatively charged carboxylic acid (-COO⁻) and hydroxyl (-O⁻) groups on the GO. A sodium anode electrode using rGO@TiO₂ NFs exhibited a significantly improved initial capacity of 217 mAh g⁻¹, high capacity retention (85% after 200 cycles at 0.2C), and a high average Coulombic efficiency (99.7% from the second cycle to the 200^th cycle), even at a 5C rate, compared to those of pristine TiO₂ NFs. The improved electrochemical performances stem from highly conductive properties of the reduced GO which is effectively anchored to the TiO₂ NFs.

New Mechanistic Insights on Na-Ion Storage in Nongraphitizable Carbon

Nongraphitizable carbon, also known as hard carbon, is considered one of the most promising anodes for the emerging Na-ion batteries. The current mechanistic understanding of Na-ion storage in hard carbon is based on the "card-house" model first raised in the early 2000s. This model describes that Na-ion insertion occurs first through intercalation between graphene sheets in turbostratic nanodomains, followed by Na filling of the pores in the carbon structure. We tried to test this model by tuning the sizes of turbostratic nanodomains but revealed a correlation between the structural defects and Na-ion storage. Based on our experimental data, we propose an alternative perspective for sodiation of hard carbon that consists of Na-ion storage at defect sites, by intercalation and last via pore-filling.

3D Networked Tin Oxide/Graphene Aerogel with a Hierarchically Porous Architecture for High-Rate Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Low-cost and sustainable sodium-ion batteries are regarded as a promising technology for large-scale energy storage and conversion. The development of high-rate anode materials is highly desirable for sodium-ion batteries. The optimization of mass transport and electron transfer is crucial in the discovery of electrode materials with good high-rate performances. Herein, we report the synthesis of 3 D interconnected SnO2 /graphene aerogels with a hierarchically porous structure as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The unique 3 D architecture was prepared by a facile in situ process, during which cross-linked 3 D conductive graphene networks with macro-/meso-sized hierarchical pores were formed and SnO2 nanoparticles were dispersed uniformly on the graphene surface simultaneously. Such a 3 D functional architecture not only facilitates the electrode-electrolyte interaction but also provides an efficient electron pathway within the graphene networks. When applied as anode materials in sodium-ion batteries, the as-prepared SnO2 /graphene aerogel exhibited high reversible capacity, improved cycling performance compared to SnO2 , and promising high-rate capability.

One-Dimensional Rod-Like Sb₂S₃-Based Anode for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Due to the high theoretical capacity of 946 mAh g(-1), Sb2S3 can be employed as promising electrode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, the sodium storage behaviors of one-dimensional (1D) Sb2S3-based materials (Sb2S3 and Sb2S3@C rods) are successfully studied for the first time, displaying good cyclability and rate capability owing to their unique morphology and structure. Specifically, the Sb2S3@C rods electrode presents greatly enhanced electrochemical properties, resulting from the introduction of thin carbon layers which can effectively alleviate the strain caused by the large volume change and simultaneously improve the conductivity of electrode during cycling. At a current density of 100 mA g(-1), it delivers a high capacity of 699.1 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles, which corresponds to 95.7% of the initial reversible capacity. Even at a high current density of 3200 mA g(-1), the capacity can still reach 429 mAh g(-1). This achievement may be a significant exploration for develpoing novel 1D Sb-based materials or metal sulfide SIBs anodes.

Poly(benzoquinonyl sulfide) as a High-Energy Organic Cathode for Rechargeable Li and Na Batteries

In concern of resource sustainability and environmental friendliness, organic electrode materials for rechargeable batteries have attracted increasing attentions in recent years. However, for many researchers, the primary impression on organic cathode materials is the poor cycling stability and low energy density, mainly due to the unfavorable dissolution and low redox potential, respectively. Herein, a novel polymer cathode material, namely poly(benzoquinonyl sulfide) (PBQS) is reported, for either rechargeable Li or Na battery. Remarkably, PBQS shows a high energy density of 734 W h kg^-1 (2.67 V × 275 mA h g^-1) in Li battery, or 557 W h kg^-1 (2.08 V × 268 mA h g^-1) in Na battery, which exceeds those of most inorganic Li or Na intercalation cathodes. Moreover, PBQS also demonstrates excellent long-term cycling stability (1000 cycles, 86%) and superior rate capability (5000 mA g^-1, 72%) in Li battery. Besides the exciting battery performance, investigations on the structure-property relationship between benzoquinone (BQ) and PBQS, and electrochemical behavior difference between Li-PBQS battery and Na-PBQS battery, also provide significant insights into developing better Li-organic and Na-organic batteries beyond conventional Li-ion batteries.

Lattice Breathing Inhibited Layered Vanadium Oxide Ultrathin Nanobelts for Enhanced Sodium Storage

Operating as the "rocking-chair" battery, sodium ion battery (SIB) with acceptable high capacity is a very promising energy storage technology. Layered vanadium oxide xerogel exhibits high sodium storage capacity. But it undergoes large lattice breathing during sodiation/desodiation, resulting in fast capacity fading. Herein, we develop a facile hydrothermal method to synthesize iron preintercalated vanadium oxide ultrathin nanobelts (Fe-VOx) with constricted interlayer spacing. Using the Fe-VOx as cathode for SIB, the lattice breathing during sodiation/desodiation is largely inhibited and the interlayer spacing is stabilized for reversible and rapid Na(+) insertion/extraction, displaying enhanced cycling and rate performance. This work presents a new strategy to reduce the lattice breathing of layered materials for enhanced sodium storage through interlayer spacing engineering.

Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Battery: High-Capacity Ammonium Vanadate Cathode with Enhanced Stability at High Rate

Sodium-ion battery (NIB) cathode performance based on ammonium vanadate is demonstrated here as having high capacity, long cycle life and good rate capability. The simple preparation process and morphology study enable us to explore this electrode as suitable NIB cathode. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculation is envisioned for the NH4V4O10 cathode, and three possible sodium arrangements in the structure are depicted for the first time. Relevant NIB-related properties such as average voltage, lattice constants, and atomic coordinates have been derived, and the estimated values are in good agreement with the current experimental values. A screening study shows ammonium vanadate electrodes prepared on carbon coat onto Al-current collector exhibits a better electrochemical performance toward sodium, with a sustained reversible capacity and outstanding rate capability. With the current cathode with nanobelt morphology, a reversible capacity of 190 mAh g(-1) is attained at a charging rate of 200 mA g(-1), and a stable capacity of above 120 mAh g(-1) is retained for an extended 50 cycles tested at 1000 mA g(-1) without the addition of any expensive electrolyte additive.

Note: Electrochemical cell for in operando X-ray diffraction measurements on a conventional X-ray diffractometer

Electrochemical in operando X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a powerful method to analyze structural changes of energy storage materials while inserting/de-inserting charge carriers, such as Li- or Na-ions, into/from a host structure. The design of an XRD in operando cell is presented, which enables the use of thin (6 μm) aluminum foil as X-ray window as a non-toxic alternative to conventional beryllium windows. Owing to the reduced thickness, diffraction patterns and their changes during cycling can be observed with excellent quality, which was demonstrated for two cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries in a half-cell set-up, P2-Na(0.7)MnO2 and Na(2.55)V6O16 ⋅ 0.6H2O.

Exfoliated MoS2 Sheets and Reduced Graphene Oxide-An Excellent and Fast Anode for Sodium-ion Battery

Three dimensional (3D) MoS₂ nanoflowers are successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. Further, a composite of as prepared MoS₂ nanoflowers and rGO is constructed by simple ultrasonic exfoliation technique. The crystallography and morphological studies have been carried out by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, HR-TEM and EDS etc. Here, XRD study revealed, a composite of exfoliated MoS₂ with expanded spacing of (002) crystal plane and rGO can be prepared by simple 40 minute of ultrasonic treatment. While, FE-SEM and TEM studies depict, individual MoS₂ nanoflowers with an average diameter of 200 nm are uniformly distributed throughout the rGO surface. When tested as sodium-ion batteries anode material by applying two different potential windows, the composite demonstrates a high reversible specific capacity of 575 mAhg⁻¹ at 100 mAg⁻¹ in between 0.01 V–2.6 V and 218 mAhg⁻¹ at 50 mAg⁻¹ when discharged in a potential range of 0.4 V–2.6 V. As per our concern, the results are one of the best obtained as compared to the earlier published one on MoS₂ based SIB anode material and more importantly this material shows such an excellent reversible Na-storage capacity and good cycling stability without addition of any expensive additive stabilizer, like fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), in comparison to those in current literature.