Metal-Organic Framework-Based Materials for Advanced Sodium Storage: Development and Anticipation

As a pioneering battery technology, even though sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are safe, non-flammable, and capable of exhibiting better temperature endurance performance than lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), because of lower energy density and larger ionic size, they are not amicable for large-scale applications. Generally, the electrochemical storage performance of a secondary battery can be improved by monitoring the composition and morphology of electrode materials. Because more is the intricacy of a nanostructured composite electrode material, more electrochemical storage applications would be expected. Despite the conventional methods suitable for practical production, the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) would offer enormous opportunities for next-generation battery applications by delicately systematizing the structure and composition at the molecular level to store sodium ions with larger sizes compared with lithium ions. Here, the review comprehensively discusses the progress of nanostructured MOFs and their derivatives applied as negative and positive electrode materials for effective sodium storage in SIBs. The commercialization goal has prompted the development of MOFs and their derivatives as electrode materials, before which the synthesis and mechanism for MOF-based SIB electrodes with improved sodium storage performance are systematically discussed. Finally, the existing challenges, possible perspectives, and future opportunities will be anticipated.

Rational construction of yolk-shell CoP/N,P co-doped mesoporous carbon nanowires as anodes for ultralong cycle life sodium-ion batteries

Owing to the natural abundance and low-cost of sodium, sodium-ion batteries offer advantages for next-generation portable electronic devices and smart grids. However, the development of anode materials with long cycle life and high reversible capacity is still a great challenge. Herein, we report a yolk–shell structure composed of N,P co-doped carbon as the shell and CoP nanowires as the yolk (YS–CoP@NPC) for a hierarchically nanoarchitectured anode for improved sodium storage performance. Benefitting from the 1D hollow structure, the YS–CoP@NPC electrode exhibits an excellent cycling stability with a reversibly capacity of 211.5 mA h g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles for sodium storage. In-depth characterization by ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and work function analysis revealed that the enhanced sodium storage property of YS–CoP@NPC might be attributed to the stable solid electrolyte interphase film, high electronic conductivity and better Na⁺ diffusion kinetics.

Owing to the natural abundance and low-cost of sodium, sodium-ion batteries offer advantages for next-generation portable electronic devices and smart grids.

SnS2 Nanosheets with RGO Modification as High-Performance Anode Materials for Na-Ion and K-Ion Batteries

To date, the fabrication of advanced anode materials that can accommodate both Na⁺ and K⁺ storage is still very challenging. Herein, we developed a facile solvothermal and subsequent annealing process to synthesize SnS₂/RGO composite, in which SnS₂ nanosheets are bonded on RGO, and investigated their potential as anodes for Na⁺ and K⁺ storage. When used as an anode in SIBs, the as-prepared SnS₂/RGO displays preeminent performance (581 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ after 80 cycles), which is a significant improvement compared with pure SnS₂. More encouragingly, SnS₂/RGO also exhibits good cycling stability (130 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.3 A g⁻¹ after 300 cycles) and excellent rate capability (520.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 A g⁻¹ and 281.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹) when used as anode for PIBs. The well-engineered structure not only guarantees the fast electrode reaction kinetics, but also ensures superior pseudocapacitance contribution during repeated cycles, which has been proved by kinetic analysis.