From Lithium-Ion to Sodium-Ion Batteries for Sustainable Energy Storage: A Comprehensive Review on Recent Research Advancements and Perspectives

A significant turning point in the search for environmentally friendly energy storage options is the switch from lithium-ion to sodium-ion batteries. This review highlights the potential of sodium-ion battery (NIB) technology to address the environmental and financial issues related to lithium-ion systems by thoroughly examining recent developments in NIB technology. It is noted that sodium is more abundant and less expensive than lithium, NIBs have several benefits that could drastically lower the total cost of energy storage systems. In addition, this study examines new findings in important fields including electrolyte compositions, electrode materials, and battery performances of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and NIBs. The article highlights advancements in anode and cathode materials, with a focus on improving energy density, cycle stability, and rate capability of both LIBs and NIBs. The review also covers the advances made in comprehending the electrochemical mechanisms and special difficulties associated with NIBs, such as material degradation and sodium ion diffusion. Future research directions are discussed, with an emphasis on enhancing the scalability and commercial viability of sodium-ion technology over lithium on Electric Grid. Considering sustainability objectives and the integration of renewable energy sources, the review's assessment of sodium-ion batteries' possible effects on the future state of energy storage is included in its conclusion.

Ligand free FeSn2 alloy nanoparticles for safe T2-weighted MR imaging of in vivo lung tumors

Biosafety is a critical issue for the successful translocation of nanomaterial-based therapeutic/diagnostic agents from bench to bedside. For instance, after the withdrawal of clinically approved magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents (CAs) due to their biosafety issues, there is a massive demand for alternative, efficient, and biocompatible MR contrast agents for future MRI clinical applications. To this end, here we successfully demonstrate the in vivo MR contrast abilities and biocompatibilities of ligand-free FeSn₂ alloy NPs for tracking in vivo lung tumors. In vitro and in vivo results reveal the FeSn₂ alloy NPs acting as appreciable T₂ weighted MR contrast agents to locate tumors. The construction of iron (Fe) on biocompatible tin (Sn) greatly facilitates the reduction of the intrinsic toxicities of Fe in vivo resulting in no significant abnormalities in liver and kidney functions. Therefore, we envision that constructing ligand-free alloy NPs will be a promising candidate for tracking in vivo tumors in future clinical applications.

Influence of M/A substitution on material properties of intermetallic compounds MSn2 (M = Fe, and Co; A = Li, and Na): a first-principles study

Structural, elastic, and electronic properties, phonons, and defects of MASn₂ (M = Fe, and Co; A = Li, and Na) were studied with DFT calculations.

Electrode Materials for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) are being billed as an economical and environmental alternative to lithium ion batteries (LIBs), especially for medium and large-scale stationery and grid storage. However, SIBs suffer from lower capacities, energy density and cycle life performance. Therefore, in order to be more efficient and feasible, novel high-performance electrodes for SIBs need to be developed and researched. This review aims to provide an exhaustive discussion about the state-of-the-art in novel high-performance anodes and cathodes being currently analyzed, and the variety of advantages they demonstrate in various critically important parameters, such as electronic conductivity, structural stability, cycle life, and reversibility.

Electrochemically Induced Amorphization and Unique Lithium and Sodium Storage Pathways in FeSbO4 Nanocrystals

The increasing energy demands have prompted research on conversion and alloying materials, offering high lithium and sodium storage capacities. However, most of these materials suffer from huge volume expansion and degradation over the thousands of charging and discharging cycles required for commercial applications. In this study, we demonstrate a facile route to synthesize FeSbO₄ nanocrystals that possess theoretical lithium and sodium storage capacity of 1220 mAh g^-1. Operando X-ray diffraction studies reveal the electrochemically induced amorphization of the nanocrystals upon alkali-ion storage. We achieved specific storage capacities of ∼600 mAh g^-1 for lithium and ∼300 mAh g^-1 for sodium, respectively. The disparity in the lithium and sodium electrochemistry arises from the unique lithiation/sodiation pathways adopted by the nanocrystals. This study offers new insights into the chemistry and mechanism of conversion- and alloying-based energy storage materials that would greatly assist the development of next-generation active materials for energy storage.

In situ synthesis of tin dioxide submicrorods anchored on nickel foam as an additive-free anode for high performance sodium-ion batteries

A hybrid of tin dioxide submicrorods anchored on conductive nickel foam (SnO₂ submicrorods-Ni foam) is in-situ synthesized via a hydrothermal and a subsequent heat treatment by using stannic chloride and sodium hydroxide as the starting materials. Characterization results indicate that the synthesized SnO₂ submicrorods has a length of ∼400 nm and a diameter of ∼150 nm anchoring tightly on Ni foam. The electrochemical properties of the material as an additive-free anode for sodium-ion batteries are investigated. And a comparative research of the reversible sodium storage properties between the additive-free electrode of SnO₂ submicrorods-Ni foam and the additive electrode of SnO₂ rod-assembly microspheres is carried out. The results demonstrate that the SnO₂ submicrorods-Ni foam is a highly attractive anode for sodium ion batteries, which could exhibit much better sodium storage properties than the SnO₂ rod-assembly microspheres and other reported SnO₂-based additive electrodes. The excellent sodium storage properties of the SnO₂ submicrorods-Ni foam electrode can be attributed to its structure advantages without additive-assistant, which increase sodium storage active sites, facilitate the electronic/ionic transport and stabilize the total electrode structure during charge-discharge process.

Melt-Spun Fe-Sb Intermetallic Alloy Anode for Performance Enhanced Sodium-Ion Batteries

Owing to the high theoretical sodiation capacities, intermetallic alloy anodes have attracted considerable interest as electrodes for next-generation sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of intermetallic Fe-Sb alloy anode for SIBs via a high-throughput and industrially viable melt-spinning process. The earth-abundant and low-cost Fe-Sb-based alloy anode exhibits excellent cycling stability with nearly 466 mAh g^-1 sodiation capacity at a specific current of 50 mA g^-1 with 95% capacity retention after 80 cycles. Moreover, the alloy anode displayed outstanding rate performance with ∼300 mAh g^-1 sodiation capacity at 1 A g^-1. The crystalline features of the melt-spun fibers aid in the exceptional electrochemical performance of the alloy anode. Further, the feasibility of the alloy anode for real-life applications was demonstrated in a sodium-ion full-cell configuration which could deliver a sodiation capacity of over 300 mAh g^-1 (based on anode) at 50 mA g^-1 with more than 99% Coulombic efficiency. The results further exhort the prospects of melt-spun alloy anodes to realize fully functional sodium-ion batteries.