A Dealloying Synthetic Strategy for Nanoporous Bismuth-Antimony Anodes for Sodium Ion Batteries

Exploration of electrochemical behavior of Sb-based porous carbon composites anode for sodium-ion batteries

Sb-based materials are considered as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their excellent sodium storage capacities and suitable potentials. However, the Sb-based anodes usually suffer from intense volume expansion and severe pulverization during the alloying-dealloying process, resulting in poor cycling performance. Herein, a composite anode with Sb/Sb2O3 nanoparticles embedded in N-doped porous carbon is prepared by the gas-solid dual template method. The volume change of the anode material is mitigated by the carbon layer enwrapping and the confinement of the porous structure. Nitrogen doping provides abundant sodium storage sites, thus enhancing the storage capacity of sodium ion. Furthermore, to gain the accurate kinetic interpretation of the electrochemical process, an ex-situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization combined with distribution of relaxation times (DRT) is conducted. The Sb/Sb2O3@NPC-1.0 demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance, achieving 340.3 mAh g-1 at 1A g-1, and maintains a capacity of 86.7 % after 1000 cycles. This work paves the way for the practical application of SIBs with high-performance and long-life Sb-based anodes.

Enable the Domino-Like Structural Recovering in Bismuth Anode to Achieve Fast and Durable Na/K Storages

Alloying-type anodes show capacity and density advantages for sodium/potassium-ion batteries (SIBs/PIBs), but they encounter serious structural degradation upon cycling, which cannot be resolved through conventional nanostructuring techniques. Herein, we present an in-depth study to reveal the intrinsic reason for the pulverization of bismuth (Bi) materials upon (de)alloying, and report a novel particle-in-bulk architecture with Bi nanospheres inlaid in the bulk carbon (BiNC) to achieve durable Na/K storage. We simulate the volume-expansion-resistant mechanism of Bi during the (de)alloying reaction, and unveil that the irreversible phase transition upon (de)alloying underlies the fundamental origin for the structural degradation of Bi anode, while a proper compressive stress (~10 %) raised by the bulk carbon can trigger a "domino-like" Bi crystal recovering. Consequently, the as obtained BiNC exhibits a record high volumetric capacity (823.1 mAh cm-3 for SIBs, 848.1 mAh cm-3 for PIBs) and initial coulombic efficiency (95.3 % for SIBs, 96.4 % for PIBs), and unprecedented cycling stability (15000 cycles for SIBs with only 0.0015 % degradation per cycle), outperforming the state-of-the-art literature. This work provides new insights on the undesirable structural evolution, and proposes basic guidelines for design of the anti-degradation structure for alloy-type electrode materials.

Resolving the Origins of Superior Cycling Performance of Antimony Anode in Sodium-ion Batteries: A Comparison with Lithium-ion Batteries

Alloying-type antimony (Sb) with high theoretical capacity is a promising anode candidate for both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Given the larger radius of Na+ (1.02 Å) than Li+ (0.76 Å), it was generally believed that the Sb anode would experience even worse capacity degradation in SIBs due to more substantial volumetric variations during cycling when compared to LIBs. However, the Sb anode in SIBs unexpectedly exhibited both better electrochemical and structural stability than in LIBs, and the mechanistic reasons that underlie this performance discrepancy remain undiscovered. Here, using substantial in situ transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman techniques complemented by theoretical simulations, we explicitly reveal that compared to the lithiation/delithiation process, sodiation/desodiation process of Sb anode displays a previously unexplored two-stage alloying/dealloying mechanism with polycrystalline and amorphous phases as the intermediates featuring improved resilience to mechanical damage, contributing to superior cycling stability in SIBs. Additionally, the better mechanical properties and weaker atomic interaction of Na-Sb alloys than Li-Sb alloys favor enabling mitigated mechanical stress, accounting for enhanced structural stability as unveiled by theoretical simulations. Our finding delineates the mechanistic origins of enhanced cycling stability of Sb anode in SIBs with potential implications for other large-volume-change electrode materials.

Unconventional Synthesis of Metal (Ni, Co, Ag) Antimony Alloy Particles

Bimetallic alloy materials attract interest owing to their properties and stability compared to pure metals, especially alloys with nanoscale dimensions. Metal antimony (MSb) alloys, specifically NiSb, are widely used for charge storage applications due to their high stability. Most synthetic approaches to form these materials require drastic conditions (e.g., high temperatures, potent reducing agents, and extended reaction times), limiting control over the final morphology. The other viable approach is a galvanic replacement that uses unstable materials as precursors. In this work, we present a new and facile method to prepare several MSb (M = Ni, Co, Ag) alloys with shape control by reacting Sb2S3 particles with a metal(M)-sulfide single source precursor in trioctylphosphine (TOP) under mild conditions. Furthermore, we explore the role of TOP as a reducing agent and demonstrate how both alloy constituents are crucial for mutual stabilization. Electrochemical studies are also performed on these NiSb particles, showing their ambipolar nature and allowing their utilization as the active ingredient in the demonstrated high-energy-density symmetric supercapacitor.

Rational Design of Hollow Structural Materials for Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes

The development of sodium-ion battery (SIB) anodes is still hindered by their rapid capacity decay and poor rate capabilities. Although there have been some new materials that can be used to fabricate stable anodes, SIBs are still far from wide applications. Strategies like nanostructure construction and material modification have been used to prepare more robust SIB anodes. Among all the design strategies, the hollow structure design is a promising method in the development of advanced anode materials. In the past decade, research efforts have been devoted to modifying the synthetic route, the type of templates, and the interior structure of hollow structures with high capacity and stability. A brief introduction is made to the main material systems and classifications of hollow structural materials first. Then different morphologies of hollow structural materials for SIB anodes from the latest reports are discussed, including nanoboxes, nanospheres, yolk shells, nanotubes, and other more complex shapes. The most used templates for the synthesis of hollow structrual materials are covered and the perspectives are highlighted at the end. This review offers a comprehensive discussion of the synthesis of hollow structural materials for SIB anodes, which could be potentially of use to research areas involving hollow materials design for batteries.

Improving the Initial Coulombic Efficiency of Sodium-Storage Antimony Anodes via Electrochemically Alloying Bismuth

Improving cycling stability while maintaining a high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of the antimony (Sb) anode is always a trade-off for the design of electrodes of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we prepare a carbon-free Sb8Bi1 anode with an ICE of 87.1% at 0.1 A g-1 by a one-step electrochemical reduction of Sb2O3 and Bi2O3 in alkaline solutions. The improved ICE of the Sb8Bi1 anode is due to the alloying of bismuth (Bi) that prevents irreversible interfacial reactions during the sodiation process. Unlike carbon buffers, the use of Bi will reduce the number of side reactions between the carbon buffer and sodium. Moreover, Bi2O3 can promote the reduction of Sb2O3 and reduce the particle size of Sb from ∼20 μm to below 300 nm. The electrolytic products can be modulated by controlling the cell voltages and electrolysis time. The electrolytic Sb8Bi1 anode delivered a capacity of 625 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles with an ICE of 87.1% at 0.1 A g-1 and even 625 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 over 100 cycles. Hence, alloying Bi into Sb is an effective way to make a long-lasting Sb anode while maintaining a high Coulombic efficiency.

2D-Layer-Structure Bi to Quasi-1D-Structure NiBi3 : Structural Dimensionality Reduction to Superior Sodium and Potassium Ion Storage

Layer-structured bismuth (Bi) is an attractive anode for Na-ion and K-ion batteries due to its large volumetric capacity and suitable redox potentials. However, the cycling stability and rate capability of the Bi anode are restricted by the large volume expansion and sluggish Na/K-storage kinetics. Herein, a structural dimensionality reduction strategy is proposed and developed by converting 2D-layer-structured Bi into a quasi-1D structured NiBi3 with enhanced reaction kinetics and reversibility to realize high-rate and stable cycling performance for Na/K-ion storage. As a proof of concept, the quasi-1D intermetallic NiBi3 with low formation energy, metallic conductivity, and 3D Na/K-ion diffusion pathways delivers outstanding capacity retention of 94.1% (332 mAh g-1 ) after 15 000 cycles for Na-ion storage, and high initial coulombic efficiency of 93.4% with improved capacity retention for K-ion storage. Moreover, investigations on the highly reversible Na/K-storage reaction mechanisms and cycling-driven morphology reconstruction further reveal the origins of the high reversibility and the accommodation to volume expansion. The finding of this work provides a new strategy for high-performance anode design by structural dimensionality manipulation and cycling-driven morphology reconstruction.

Bismuth-Antimony Alloy Nanoparticles Embedded in 3D Hierarchical Porous Carbon Skeleton Film for Superior Sodium Storage

A composite film that features bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles uniformly embedded in a 3D hierarchical porous carbon skeleton is synthesized by the polyacrylonitrile-spreading method. The dissolved polystyrene is used as a soft template. The average diameter of the bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles is ~34.5 nm. The content of the Bi-Sb alloy has an impact on the electrochemical performance of the composite film. When the content of the bismuth-antimony alloy is 45.27%, the reversible capacity and cycling stability of the composite film are the best. Importantly, the composite film outperforms the bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles embedded in dense carbon film and the cube carbon nanobox in terms of specific capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability. The composite film can provide a discharge capacity of 322 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g-1, 292 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1, and 185 mAh g-1 after 2000 cycles at 10 A g-1. The carbon film prepared by the spreading method presents a unique integrated composite structure that significantly improves the structural stability and electronic conductivity of Bi-Sb alloy nanoparticles. The 3D hierarchical porous carbon skeleton structure further enhances electrolyte accessibility, promotes Na+ transport, increases reaction kinetics, and buffers internal stress.

Introducing Hybrid Defects of Silicon Doping and Oxygen Vacancies into MOF-Derived TiO2-X @Carbon Nanotablets Toward High-Performance Sodium-Ion Storage

Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), which suffer from the intrinsic sluggish ion transferability and poor conductivity. To overcome these drawbacks, a facile strategy is developed to synergistically engineer the lattice defects (i.e., heteroatom doping and oxygen vacancy generation) and the fine microstructure (i.e., carbon hybridization and porous structure) of TiO2 -based anode, which efficiently enhances the sodium storage performance. Herein, it is successfully realized that the Si-doping into the MIL-125 metal-organic framework structure, which can be easily converted to SiO2 /TiO2-x @C nanotablets by annealing under inert atmosphere. After NaOH etching SiO2 /TiO2-x @C which contains unbonded SiO2 and chemically bonded SiOTi, thus the lattice Si-doped TiO2-x @C (Si-TiO2-x @C) nanotablets with rich Ti3+ /oxygen vacancies and abundant inner pores are developed. When examined as an anode for SIB, the Si-TiO2-x @C exhibits a high sodium storage capacity (285 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 ), excellent long-term cycling, and high-rate performances (190 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1 after 2500 cycles with 95.1% capacity retention). Theoretical calculations indicate that the rich Ti3+ /oxygen vacancies and Si-doping synergistically contribute to a narrowed bandgap and lower sodiation barrier, which thus lead to fast electron/ion transfer coefficients and the predominant pseudocapacitive sodium storage behavior.

In Situ Atomic-Scale Deciphering of Multiple Dynamic Phase Transformations and Reversible Sodium Storage in Ternary Metal Sulfide Anode

Ternary metal sulfides (TMSs), endowed with the synergistic effect of their respective binary counterparts, hold great promise as anode candidates for boosting sodium storage performance. Their fundamental sodium storage mechanisms associated with dynamic structural evolution and reaction kinetics, however, have not been fully comprehended. To enhance the electrochemical performance of TMS anodes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), it is of critical importance to gain a better mechanistic understanding of their dynamic electrochemical processes during live (de)sodiation cycling. Herein, taking BiSbS₃ anode as a representative paradigm, its real-time sodium storage mechanisms down to the atomic scale during the (de)sodiation cycling are systematically elucidated through in situ transmission electron microscopy. Previously unexplored multiple phase transformations involving intercalation, two-step conversion, and two-step alloying reactions are explicitly revealed during sodiation, in which newly formed Na₂BiSbS₄ and Na₂BiSb are respectively identified as intermediate phases of the conversion and alloying reactions. Impressively, the final sodiation products of Na₆BiSb and Na₂S can recover to the original BiSbS₃ phase upon desodiation, and afterward, a reversible phase transformation can be established between BiSbS₃ and Na₆BiSb, where the BiSb as an individual phase (rather than respective Bi and Sb phases) participates in reactions. These findings are further verified by operando X-ray diffraction, density functional theory calculations, and electrochemical tests. Our work provides valuable insights into the mechanistic understanding of sodium storage mechanisms in TMS anodes and important implications for their performance optimization toward high-performance SIBs.

Bismuth-Antimony Alloy Embedded in Carbon Matrix for Ultra-Stable Sodium Storage

Alloy-type anodes are the most promising candidates for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their impressive Na storage capacity and suitable voltage platform. However, the implementation of alloy-type anodes is significantly hindered by their huge volume expansion during the alloying/dealloying processes, which leads to their pulverization and detachment from current collectors for active materials and the unsatisfactory cycling performance. In this work, bimetallic Bi-Sb solid solutions in a porous carbon matrix are synthesized by a pyrolysis method as anode material for SIBs. Adjustable alloy composition, the introduction of porous carbon matrix, and nanosized bimetallic particles effectively suppress the volume change during cycling and accelerate the electrons/ions transport kinetics. The optimized Bi₁Sb₁@C electrode exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance with an ultralong cycle life (167.2 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 over 8000 cycles). In situ X-ray diffraction investigation is conducted to reveal the reversible and synchronous sodium storage pathway of the Bi₁Sb₁@C electrode: (Bi,Sb) Na(Bi,Sb) Na₃(Bi,Sb). Furthermore, online electrochemical mass spectrometry unveils the evolution of gas products of the Bi₁Sb₁@C electrode during the cell operation.

Inlaying Bismuth Nanoparticles on Graphene Nanosheets by Chemical Bond for Ultralong-Lifespan Aqueous Sodium Storage

Rechargeable aqueous sodium ion batteries (ASIBs) are rising as an important alternative to lithium ion batteries, owing to their safety and low cost. Metal anodes show a high theoretical capacity and nonselective hydrated ion insertion for ASIBs, yet their large volume expansion and sluggish reaction kinetics resulted in poor electrochemical stability. Herein, we demonstrate an electrode cyclability enhancement mechanism by inlaying bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles on graphene nanosheets through chemical bond, which is achieved by a unique laser induced compounding method. This anchored metal-graphene heterostructure can effectively mitigate volume variation, and accelerate the kinetic capability as the active Bi can be exposed to the electrolyte. Our method can achieve a reversible capacity of 122 mAh g^-1 at a large current density of 4 A g^-1 for over 9500 cycles. This finding offers a desirable structural design of other metal anodes for aqueous energy storage systems.

Structurally Durable Bimetallic Alloy Anodes Enabled by Compositional Gradients

Metals such as Sb and Bi are important anode materials for sodium-ion batteries because they feature a large capacity and low reaction potential. However, the accumulation of stress and strain upon sodium storage leads to the formation of cracks and fractures, resulting in electrode failure upon extended cycling. In this work, the design and construction of Bi_x Sb_1-x bimetallic alloy films with a compositional gradient to mitigate the intrinsic structural instability is reported. In the gradient film, the top is rich in Sb, contributing to the capacity, while the bottom is rich in Bi, helping to reduce the stress in the interphase between the film and the substrate. Significantly, this gradient film affords a high reversible capacity of ≈500 mAh g^-1 and sustains 82% of the initial capacity after 1000 cycles at 2 C, drastically outperforming the solid-solution counterpart and many recently reported alloy anodes. Such a gradient design can open up the possibilities to engineering high-capacity anode materials that are structurally unstable due to the huge volume variation upon energy storage.

Bimetallic Bi-Sn microspheres as high initial coulombic efficiency and long lifespan anodes for sodium-ion batteries

Anode materials with a high initial coulombic efficiency and a long lifespan are highly desirable for sodium-ion batteries. Here, bimetallic μ-BiSn microspheres well combine the high capacity of Sn and the good stability of Bi together, exhibiting superior electrochemical performance, such as a high initial Coulombic efficiency (90.6%), a good cycling stability (541 mA h g^-1 after 3000 cycles at 2 A g^-1) and an excellent rate capability (393 mA h g^-1 at 10 A g^-1).

In Situ Study of Nanoporosity Evolution during Dealloying AgAu and CoPd by Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

Electrochemical dealloying has become a standard technique to produce nanoporous network structures of various noble metals, exploiting the selective dissolution of one component from an alloy. While achieving nanoporosity during dealloying has been intensively studied for the prime example of nanoporous Au from a AgAu alloy, dealloying from other noble-metal alloys has been rarely investigated in the scientific literature. Here, we study the evolution of nanoporosity in the electrochemical dealloying process for both CoPd and AgAu alloys using a combination of in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations, and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). When comparing dealloying kinetics, we find a more rapid progression of the dealloying front for CoPd and also a considerably slower coarsening of the nanoporous structure for Pd in relation to Au. We argue that our findings are natural consequences of the effectively higher dealloying potential and the higher interatomic binding energy for the CoPd alloy. Our results corroborate the understanding of electrochemical dealloying on the basis of two rate equations for dissolution and surface diffusion and suggest the general applicability of this dealloying mechanism to binary alloys. The present study contributes to the future tailoring of structural size in nanoporous metals for improved chemical surface activity.

Nanoporous bismuth for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formate

Bi is an attractive catalyst towards the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate. In this work, nanoporous bismuth was prepared by dealloying Mg₃Bi₂ with tartaric acid (TA) solution, and the size of the primary Bi nanoparticles was adjusted according to the concentration of TA. When the concentration of TA increased from 2 wt% to 20 wt%, the particle size of Bi increased from about 70 nm to 400 nm. The synthesized nanoporous Bi samples were investigated as electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO₂ in KHCO₃ electrolyte, and it was found that the smaller the particle size, the higher the catalytic activity. However, nanoporous Bi comprising 70 nm particles suffered from mass transfer difficulty and sintering during the reaction, whereas the 100 nm nanoporous Bi delivered both a high formate formation current and faradaic efficiency (FE) (16 mA cm^-2, FE > 90% at -0.88 V vs. RHE) and showed excellent durability.

Solid Solution of Bi and Sb for Robust Lithium Storage Enabled by Consecutive Alloying Reaction

Materials with alloying reactions have significant potential as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity and appropriate lithiation potentials. Nonetheless, their cycling performance is inferior due to violent volume expansion and severe pulverization of active materials. Herein, solid solution of Bi_0.5 Sb_0.5 encapsulated with carbon is discovered to enable consecutive alloying reactions with manageable volume change, suitable for developing LIBs with high capacity and robust cyclability. A Sb-rich shell and Bi-rich core structure is formed in cycling since the alloying reaction between Sb and Li occurs first, followed by the alloying reaction between Bi and Li. Such a consecutive alloying reaction obeying the thermodynamic path is experimentally realized by the carbon capsulation, which acts as a protecting solid layer to avoid polarized reactions occurred when exposed directly to liquid electrolyte. The LIBs using Bi_0.5 Sb_0.5 @carbon run on the consecutive alloying reactions exhibits high capacity, prolonged lifespan (489.4 mAh g^-1 after 2000 cycles at 1 A g^-1 ) and fast kinetic, while those using bare Bi_0.5 Sb_0.5 suffer from worsened kinetic and thus a poor cycling performance owning to the polarized reactions. The work paves a way of developing alloy electrodes for alkaline-ion rechargeable batteries with potential industry applications.

Dealloying-Derived Nanoporous Cu6Sn5 Alloy as Stable Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The volume expansion during Li ion insertion/extraction remains an obstacle for the application of Sn-based anode in lithium ion-batteries. Herein, the nanoporous (np) Cu₆Sn₅ alloy and Cu₆Sn₅/Sn composite were applied as a lithium-ion battery anode. The as-dealloyed np-Cu₆Sn₅ has an ultrafine ligament size of 40 nm and a high BET-specific area of 15.9 m² g^-1. The anode shows an initial discharge capacity as high as 1200 mA h g^-1, and it remains a capacity of higher than 600 mA h g^-1 for the initial five cycles at 0.1 A g^-1. After 100 cycles, the anode maintains a stable capacity higher than 200 mA h g^-1 for at least 350 cycles, with outstanding Coulombic efficiency. The ex situ XRD patterns reveal the reverse phase transformation between Cu₆Sn₅ and Li₂CuSn. The Cu₆Sn₅/Sn composite presents a similar cycling performance with a slightly inferior rate performance compared to np-Cu₆Sn₅. The study demonstrates that dealloyed nanoporous Cu₆Sn₅ alloy could be a promising candidate for lithium-ion batteries.

Electrochemically Engineering Antimony Interspersed on Graphene toward Advanced Sodium-Storage Anodes

Nanoengineering of metal anode materials shows great potential for energy storage with high capacity. Zero-dimensional nanoparticles are conducive to acquire remarkable electrochemical properties in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of their enlarged surface active sites. However, it is still difficult to fulfill the requirements of practical applications in batteries owing to the deficiency of efficient and scalable preparation approaches of high-performance metal electrode materials. Herein, an electrochemical cathodic corrosion method is proposed for the tunable preparation of nanostructured antimony (Sb) by the introduction of a surfactant, which can efficiently avoid the agglomeration of Sb atom clusters generated from the Zintl compound and further stacking into bulk during the electrochemical process. Subsequently, graphene as the support and conductive matrix is uniformly interspersed by generating Sb nanoparticles (Sb/Gr). Moreover, the reversible crystalline-phase evolution of Sb ⇋ NaSb ⇋Na₃Sb for Sb/Gr was studied by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD). Benefiting from the interconnection of the conductive network, Sb/Gr anodes deliver a high capacity of 635.34 mAh g^-1, a retained capacity of 507.2 mAh g^-1 after 150 cycles at 0.1 C (1 C = 660 mAh g^-1), and excellent rate performance with the capacities of 473.41 and 405.09 mAh g^-1 at 2 and 5 C, respectively. The superior cycle stability with a capacity of 346.26 mAh g^-1 is achieved after 500 cycles at 2 C. This electrochemical approach offers a new route toward developing metal anodes with designed nanostructures for high-performance SIBs.

Nitrogen Doped Carbon Coated Bi Microspheres as High-performance Anode for Half and Full Sodium Ion Batteries

As two-dimensional (2D) materials, bismuth (Bi) has large interlayer spacing along c-axis (0.395 nm) which provides rich active sites for sodium ions, thus guaranteeing high sodium ion storage activity. However, its poor electrical conductivity, combined with its degraded cycling performance, restricts its practical application. Herein, Bi microsphere coated with nitrogen-doped carbon (Bi@NC) was synthesized. Owing to the unique Bi crystals and nitrogen-doped carbon layer, the obtained Bi@NC anode exhibited satisfactory cycling stability and superior rate capability. Moreover, after assembling Bi@NC anode with Na₃ V₂ (PO₄ )₃ @C cathode to full battery, excellent sodium storage performance was obtained (57 mA h g^-1 after 2000 cycles at 1.0 A g^-1 ).

Recent Progress on the Alloy-Based Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries and Potassium-Ion Batteries

High-energy batteries with low cost are urgently needed in the field of large-scale energy storage, such as grid systems and renewable energy sources. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) with alloy-based anodes provide huge potential due to their earth abundance, high capacity, and suitable working potential, and are recognized as attractive alternatives for next-generation batteries system. Although some important breakthroughs have been reported, more significant improvements are still required for long lifetime and high energy density. Herein, the latest progress for alloy-based anodes for SIBs and PIBs is summarized, mainly including Sn, Sb, Ge, Bi, Si, P, and their oxides, sulfides, selenides, and phosphides. Specifically, the material designs for the desired Na⁺ /K⁺ storage performance, phase transform, ionic/electronic transport kinetics, and specific chemical interactions are discussed. Typical structural features and research strategies of alloy-based anodes, which are used to facilitate processes in battery development for SIBs and PIBs, are also summarized. The perspective of future research of SIBs and PIBs is outlined.

Intrinsic spin-valley-coupled Dirac state in Janus functionalized β-BiAs monolayer

Recently, a new class of 2D Dirac materials, spin-valley-coupled Dirac semimetals (svc-DSMs), was proposed in strained SbAsX₂ monolayers (MLs) and transition metal dichalcogenide-supported graphene. Owing to the superb properties, including Dirac spin-valley Hall effect and dissipationless transport, svc-DSMs provide an ideal platform for exploring the integration of Dirac physics, spintronics and valleytronics. However, the predicted candidate materials are all extrinsic, requiring tensile strain or proximity effect. Using first-principles calculations, herein we identify that strain-free BrBiAsCl ML is an intrinsic svc-DSM that is located at the boundary between 2D trivial insulators and topological insulators owing to the balance between spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and the built-in polarized vertical electric field. Under inversion asymmetry, the strong SOC in BrBiAsCl ML induces giant spin-splittings in both the uppermost valence band and the lowermost conduction band, rendering a nearly closed bulk gap and the formation of a spin-valley-dependent Dirac cone. Remarkably, such an svc-DSM state can be well preserved in BrBiAsCl ML when supported on a proper substrate, which is indispensable for the application of svc-DSMs in devices.

Nano Polymorphism-Enabled Redox Electrodes for Rechargeable Batteries

Nano polymorphism (NPM), as an emerging research area in the field of energy storage, and rechargeable batteries, have attracted much attention recently. In this review, the recent progress on the composition and formation of polymorphs, and the evolution processes of different redox electrodes in rechargeable metal-ion, metal-air, and metal-sulfur batteries are highlighted. First, NPM and its significance for rechargeable batteries are discussed. Subsequently, the current NPM modulation strategies of different types of representative electrodes for their corresponding rechargeable battery applications are summarized. The goal is to demonstrate how NPM could tune the intrinsic material properties, and hence, improve their electrochemical activities for each battery type. It is expected that the analysis of polymorphism and electrochemical properties of materials could help identify some "processing-structure-properties" relationships for material design and performance enhancement. Lastly, the current research challenges and potential research directions are discussed to offer guidance and perspectives for future research on NPM engineering.

Selective Synthesis of Bismuth or Bismuth Selenide Nanosheets from a Metal Organic Precursor: Investigation of their Catalytic Performance for Water Splitting

The development of cost-effective, functional materials that can be efficiently used for sustainable energy generation is highly desirable. Herein, a new molecular precursor of bismuth (tris(selenobenzoato)bismuth(III), [Bi(SeOCPh)3]), has been used to prepare selectively Bi or Bi2Se3 nanosheets via a colloidal route by the judicious control of the reaction parameters. The Bi formation mechanism was investigated, and it was observed that the trioctylphosphine (TOP) plays a crucial role in the formation of Bi. Employing the vapor deposition method resulted in the formation of exclusively Bi2Se3 films at different temperatures. The synthesized nanomaterials and films were characterized by p-XRD, TEM, Raman, SEM, EDX, AFM, XPS, and UV-vis spectroscopy. A minimum sheet thickness of 3.6 nm (i.e., a thickness of 8-9 layers) was observed for bismuth, whereas a thickness of 4 nm (i.e., a thickness of 4 layers) was observed for Bi2Se3 nanosheets. XPS showed surface oxidation of both materials and indicated an uncapped surface of Bi, whereas Bi2Se3 had a capping layer of oleylamine, resulting in reduced surface oxidation. The potential of Bi and Bi2Se3 nanosheets was tested for overall water-splitting application. The OER and HER catalytic performances of Bi2Se3 indicate overpotentials of 385 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and 220 mV, with Tafel slopes of 122 and 178 mV dec-1, respectively. In comparison, Bi showed a much lower OER activity (506 mV at 10 mA cm-2) but a slightly better HER (214 mV at 10 mA cm-2) performance. Similarly, Bi2Se3 nanosheets were observed to exhibit cathodic photocurrent in photoelectrocatalytic activity, which indicated their p-type behavior.

Bi-Based Electrode Materials for Alkali Metal-Ion Batteries

Alkali metal (Li, Na, K) ion batteries with high energy density are urgently required for large-scale energy storage applications while the lack of advanced anode materials restricts their development. Recently, Bi-based materials have been recognized as promising electrode candidates for alkali metal-ion batteries due to their high volumetric capacity and suitable operating potential. Herein, the latest progress of Bi-based electrode materials for alkali metal-ion batteries is summarized, mainly focusing on synthesis strategies, structural features, storage mechanisms, and the corresponding electrochemical performance. Particularly, the optimization of electrode-electrolyte interphase is also discussed. In addition, the remaining challenges and further perspectives of Bi-based electrode materials are outlined. This review aims to provide comprehensive knowledge of Bi-based materials and offer a guideline toward more applications in high-performance batteries.

Rational Design of Sb@C@TiO2 Triple-Shell Nanoboxes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Antimony is an attractive anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity and appropriate sodiation potential. However, its practical application is severely impeded by its poor cycling stability caused by dramatic volumetric variations during sodium uptake and release processes. Here, to circumvent this obstacle, Sb@C@TiO₂ triple-shell nanoboxes (TSNBs) are synthesized through a template-engaged galvanic replacement approach. The TSNB structure consists of an inner Sb hollow nanobox protected by a conductive carbon middle shell and a TiO₂ -nanosheet-constructed outer shell. This structure offers dual protection to the inner Sb and enough room to accommodate volume expansion, thus promoting the structural integrity of the electrode and the formation of a stable solid-electrolyte interface film. Benefiting from the rational structural design and synergistic effects of Sb, carbon, and TiO₂ , the Sb@C@TiO₂ electrode exhibits superior rate performance (212 mAh g^-1 at 10 A g^-1 ) and outstanding long-term cycling stability (193 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 after 4000 cycles). Moreover, a full cell assembled with a configuration of Sb@C@TiO₂ //Na₃ (VOPO₄ )₂ F displays a high output voltage of 2.8 V and a high energy density of 179 Wh kg^-1 , revealing the great promise of Sb@C@TiO₂ TSNBs as the electrode in SIBs.

Bi-Sb Nanocrystals Embedded in Phosphorus as High-Performance Potassium Ion Battery Electrodes

The development of high-performance potassium ion battery (KIB) electrodes requires a nanoengineering design aimed at optimizing the construction of active material/buffer material nanocomposites. These nanocomposites will alleviate the stress resulting from large volume changes induced by K⁺ ion insertion/extraction and enhance the electrical and ion conductivity. We report the synthesis of phosphorus-embedded ultrasmall bismuth-antimony nanocrystals (Bi_xSb_1-x@P, (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)) for KIB anodes via a facile solution precipitation at room temperature. Bi_xSb_1-x@P nanocomposites can enhance potassiation-depotassiation reactions with K⁺ ions, owing to several attributes. First, by adjusting the feed ratios of the Bi/Sb reactants, the composition of Bi_xSb_1-x nanocrystals can be systematically tuned for the best KIB anode performance. Second, extremely small (diameter ≈ 3 nm) Bi_xSb_1-x nanocrystals were obtained after cycling and were fixed firmly inside the P matrix. These nanocrystals were effective in buffering the large volume change and preventing the collapse of the electrode. Third, the P matrix served as a good medium for both electron and K⁺ ion transport to enable rapid charge and discharge processes. Fourth, thin and stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers that formed on the surface of the cycled Bi_xSb_1-x@P electrodes resulted in low resistance of the overall battery electrode. Lastly, in situ X-ray diffraction analysis of K⁺ ion insertion/extraction into/from the Bi_xSb_1-x@P electrodes revealed that the potassium storage mechanism involves a simple, direct, and reversible reaction pathway: (Bi, Sb) ↔ K(Bi, Sb) ↔ K₃(Bi, Sb). Therefore, electrodes with the optimized composition, i.e., Bi_0.5Sb_0.5@P, exhibited excellent electrochemical performance (in terms of specific capacity, rate capacities, and cycling stability) as KIB anodes. Bi_0.5Sb_0.5@P anodes retained specific capacities of 295.4 mA h g^-1 at 500 mA g^-1 and 339.1 mA h g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 after 800 and 550 cycles, respectively. Furthermore, a capacity of 258.5 mA h g^-1 even at 6.5 A g^-1 revealed the outstanding rate capability of the Sb-based KIB anodes. Proof-of-concept KIBs utilizing Bi_0.5Sb_0.5@P as an anode and PTCDA (perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride) as a cathode were used to demonstrate the applicability of Bi_0.5Sb_0.5@P electrodes to full cells. This study shows that Bi_xSb_1-x@P nanocomposites are promising carbon-free anode materials for KIB anodes and are readily compatible with the commercial slurry-coating process applied in the battery manufacturing industry.

Durian-Inspired Design of Bismuth-Antimony Alloy Arrays for Robust Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion batteries have attracted widespread attention for cost-effective and large-scale electric energy storage. However, their practical deployment has been largely retarded by the lack of choice of efficient anode materials featuring large capacity and electrochemical stability and robustness. Herein, we report a durian-inspired design and template-free fabrication of a robust sodium anode based on triangular pyramid arrays of Bi_0.75Sb_0.25 alloy electrodeposited on Cu substrates. The Bi_0.75Sb_0.25 arrays exhibit an appreciable electrochemical robustness for sodium storage, sustaining a reversible capability 335 mAh g^-1 at a high rate of 2.5 A g^-1 and 87% of the initial capacity over 2000 cycles. We further demonstrate the applicability of the Bi_0.75Sb_0.25 array anode in sodium full cells by pairing it with a Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C cathode. This full cell achieves a high specific energy of 203 Wh kg^-1 (based on both active electrodes). Such an enhanced performance is attributed to the thorny-durian-like architecture and bimetallic alloy composition. The pyramid tip induces ion enrichment for rapid charge-transfer reaction, while the alloy design reduces the electrode volume swelling for stable Na cycling.

Dealloyed Nanoporous Materials for Rechargeable Post-Lithium Batteries

Nanoporous materials (NPMs) made by dealloying have been well recognized as multifunctional electrodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In recent years, there are ever-increasing demands on grid-scale energy storage devices composed by earth-abundant elements such as Na, K, Mg, Al, and Zn. Compared to LIBs, these electrochemical cells face critical challenges such as slow kinetics of redox reactions and structural instability owing to large ion size and/or multiple-electron process. Much interest has been focused on NPMs to address these issues with great success. This Minireview discusses the recent research progresses on these novel electrode materials in the emerging post-lithium batteries, including the rational-design of NPMs, structure-performance correlation in each battery system, and insights into future development of this rapidly growing field.

Bismuthene Metallurgy: Transformation of Bismuth Particles to Ultrahigh-Aspect-Ratio 2D Microsheets

Ultrathin bismuth exhibits promising performance for topological insulators due to its narrow band gap and intrinsic strong spin-orbit coupling, as well as for energy-related applications because of its electronic and mechanical properties. However, large-scale production of 2D sheets via liquid-phase exfoliation as an established large-scale method is restricted by the strong interaction between bismuth layers. Here, a sonication method is utilized to produce ultrahigh-aspect-ratio bismuthene microsheets. The studies on the mechanism excludes the exfoliation of the layered bulk bismuth and formation of the microsheets is attributed to the melting of spherical particles (r = 1.5 µm) at a high temperature-generated under the ultrasonic tip-followed by a recrystallization step producing uniformly-shaped ultrathin microsheets (A = 0.5-2 µm² , t: ≈2 nm). Notably, although the preparation is performed in oxygenated aqueous solution, the sheets are not oxidized, and they are stable under ambient conditions for at least 1 month. The microsheets are used to construct a vapor sensor using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as detection technique. The device is highly selective, and it shows long-term stability. Overall, this project exhibits a reproducible method for large-scale preparation of ultrathin bismuthene microsheets in a benign environment, demonstrating opportunities to realize devices based on bismuthene.

Controllable Synthesis of Peapod-like Sb@C and Corn-like C@Sb Nanotubes for Sodium Storage

Antimony (Sb) is regarded as an attractive anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity of 660 mAh g^-1. Combining Sb with carbonaceous materials has been considered as an effective way to resolve the serious volume expansion issues. Sb/C composites mainly consist of two types, that is, Sb confined inside a carbon matrix and Sb deposited on the surface of a carbon matrix, and both have shown superior sodium storage performance. However, which structure is more beneficial for achieving high electrochemical performance is still unclear. In this work, peapod-like Sb@C and corn-like C@Sb nanotubes are synthesized via a nanoconfined galvanic replacement reaction and used as model materials for sodium storage to explore the above issue. When evaluated as anode materials for SIBs, the peapod-like Sb@C shows a higher rate capability and a significantly better long-term cycling stability compared to those of the corn-like C@Sb. Electrochemical analysis reveals that the peapod-like Sb@C exhibits faster Na⁺ and electron transport kinetics and higher proportions of surface capacitive contributions. These results demonstrate the structural superiority of the nanoconfined structure and provide valuable information for the rational design and construction of Sb-based anode materials for high-performance electrochemical energy storage.

3D Porous Self-Standing Sb Foam Anode with a Conformal Indium Layer for Enhanced Sodium Storage

Antimony (Sb) has been considered as a promising anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of its high theoretical capacity and moderate working potential but suffers from the dramatic volume variations (∼250%), an unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase, active material exfoliation, and a continuously increased interphase impedance upon sodiation and desodiation processes. To address these issues, we report a unique three-dimensional (3D) porous self-standing foam electrode built from core-shelled Sb@In₂O₃ nanostructures via a continuous electrodepositing strategy coupled with surface chemical passivation. Such a hierarchical structure possesses a robust framework with rich voids and a dense protection layer (In₂O₃), which allow Sb nanoparticles to well accommodate their mechanical strain for efficiently avoiding electrode cracks and pulverization with a stable electrode/electrolyte interphase upon sodiation/desodiation processes. When evaluated as an anode for SIBs, the prepared nanoarchitectures exhibit a high first reversible capacity (641.3 mA h g^-1) and good cyclability (456.5 mA h g^-1 after 300 cycles at 300 mA g^-1), along with superior high rate capacity (348.9 mA h g^-1 even at 20 A g^-1) with a first Coulomb efficiency as high as 85.3%. This work could offer an efficient approach to improve alloying-based anode materials for promoting their practical applications.

Ultrahigh and Durable Volumetric Lithium/Sodium Storage Enabled by a Highly Dense Graphene-Encapsulated Nitrogen-Doped Carbon@Sn Compact Monolith

Tin-based composites hold promise as anodes for high-capacity lithium/sodium-ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs); however, it is necessary to use carbon coated nanosized tin to solve the issues related to large volume changes during electrochemical cycling, thus leading to the low volumetric capacity for tin-based composites due to their low packing density. Herein, we design a highly dense graphene-encapsulated nitrogen-doped carbon@Sn (HD N-C@Sn/G) compact monolith with Sn nanoparticles double-encapsulated by N-C and graphene, which exhibits a high density of 2.6 g cm^-3 and a high conductivity of 212 S m^-1. The as-obtained HD N-C@Sn/G monolith anode exhibits ultrahigh and durable volumetric lithium/sodium storage. Specifically, it delivers a high volumetric capacity of 2692 mAh cm^-3 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^-1 and an ultralong cycling stability exceeding 1500 cycles at 1.0 A g^-1 with only 0.019% capacity decay per cycle in lithium-ion batteries. Besides, in situ TEM and ex situ SEM have revealed that the unique double-encapsulated structure effectively mitigates drastic volume variation of the tin nanoparticles during electrode cycling. Furthermore, the full cell using HD N-C@Sn/G as an anode and LiCoO₂ as a cathode displays a superior cycling stability. This work provides a new avenue and deep insight into the design of high-volumetric-capacity alloy-based anodes with ultralong cycle life.

Bismuth-Antimony Alloy Nanoparticle@Porous Carbon Nanosheet Composite Anode for High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries

Antimony (Sb)-based anode materials have recently aroused great attention in potassium-ion batteries (KIBs), because of their high theoretical capacities and suitable potassium inserting potentials. Nevertheless, because of large volumetric expansion and severe pulverization during potassiation/depotassiation, the performance of Sb-based anode materials is poor in KIBs. Herein, a composite nanosheet with bismuth-antimony alloy nanoparticles embedded in a porous carbon matrix (BiSb@C) is fabricated by a facile freeze-drying and pyrolysis method. The introduction of carbon and bismuth effectively suppress the stress/strain originated from the volume change during charge/discharge process. Excellent electrochemical performance is achieved as a KIB anode, which delivers a high reversible capacity of 320 mA h g^-1 after 600 cycles at 500 mA g^-1. In addition, full KIBs by coupling with Prussian Blue cathode deliver a high capacity of 396 mA h g^-1 and maintain 360 mA h g^-1 after 70 cycles. Importantly, the operando X-ray diffraction investigation reveals a reversible potassiation/depotassiation reaction mechanism of (Bi,Sb) ↔ K(Bi,Sb) ↔ K₃(Bi,Sb) for the BiSb@C composite. Our findings not only propose a reasonable design of high-performance alloy-based anodes in KIBs but also promote the practical use of KIBs in large-scale energy storage.

Optimizing the Void Size of Yolk-Shell Bi@Void@C Nanospheres for High-Power-Density Sodium-Ion Batteries

Bismuth (Bi) has been demonstrated as a promising anode for Na-ion batteries (NIBs) because it has high gravimetry (386 mA h g^-1) and volumetric capacity (3800 mA h cm^-3). However, Bi suffers from large volume expansion during sodiation, leading to poor electrochemical performance. The construction of a nanostructure with sufficient void space to accommodate the volume change has been proven effective for achieving prolonged cycling stability. However the excessive void space will definitely decrease the volumetric energy density of the battery. Herein, we design optimized Bi@Void@C nanospheres (Bi@Void@C-2) with yolk-shell structure that exhibit the best cycling performance and enhanced volumetric energy density. The optimized void space not only could buffer the volume change of the Bi nanosphere but also could keep the high volumetric energy density of the battery. The Bi@Void@C-2 shows an excellent rate capacity of 173 mA h g^-1 at ultrahigh current density of 100 A g^-1 and long-cycle life (198 mA h g^-1 at 20 A g^-1 over 10 000 cycles). The origin of the superior performance is achieved through in-depth fundamental studies during battery operation using in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ transmission electron microscope (TEM), complemented by theoretical calculations and ex situ TEM observation. Our rational design provides insights for anode materials with large volume variation, especially for conversion type and alloying type mechanism materials for batteries (i.e., Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries).

Bismuth Nanoparticle@Carbon Composite Anodes for Ultralong Cycle Life and High-Rate Sodium-Ion Batteries

Bismuth has emerged as a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), owing to its high capacity and suitable operating potential. However, large volume changes during alloying/dealloying processes lead to poor cycling performance. Herein, bismuth nanoparticle@carbon (Bi@C) composite is prepared via a facile annealing method using a commercial coordination compound precursor of bismuth citrate. The composite has a uniform structure with Bi nanoparticles embedded within a carbon framework. The nanosized structure ensures a fast kinetics and efficient alleviation of stress/strain caused by the volume change, and the resilient and conductive carbon matrix provides an interconnected electron transportation pathway. The Bi@C composite delivers outstanding sodium-storage performance with an ultralong cycle life of 30 000 cycles at a high current density of 8 A g^-1 and an excellent rate capability of 71% capacity retention at an ultrahigh current rate of 60 A g^-1 . Even at a high mass loading of 11.5 mg cm^-2 , a stable reversible capacity of 280 mA h g^-1 can be obtained after 200 cycles. More importantly, full SIBs by pairing with a Na₃ V₂ (PO₄ )₃ cathode demonstrates superior performance. Combining the facile synthesis and the commercial precursor, the exceptional performance makes the Bi@C composite very promising for practical large-scale applications.

Size-dependent diffusion controls natural aging in aluminium alloys

A key question in materials science is how fast properties evolve, which relates to the kinetics of phase transformations. In metals, kinetics is primarily connected to diffusion, which for substitutional elements is enabled via mobile atomic-lattice vacancies. In fact, non-equilibrium vacancies are often required for structural changes. Rapid quenching of various important alloys, such as Al- or Mg-alloys, results for example in natural aging, i.e. slight movements of solute atoms in the material, which significantly alter the material properties. In this study we demonstrate a size effect of natural aging in an AlMgSi alloy via atom probe tomography with near-atomic image resolution. We show that non-equilibrium vacancy diffusional processes are generally stopped when the sample size reaches the nanometer scale. This precludes clustering and natural aging in samples below a certain size and has implications towards the study of non-equilibrium diffusion and microstructural changes via microscopy techniques.

Aluminium alloys can naturally age and form microstructural clusters that affect their mechanical properties. Here, the authors show that nanosized samples do not under undergo natural aging because diffusion-controlled clustering processes are inhibited.

2D V-V Binary Materials: Status and Challenges

2D phosphorene, arsenene, antimonene, and bismuthene, as a fast-growing family of 2D monoelemental materials, have attracted enormous interest in the scientific community owing to their intriguing structures and extraordinary electronic properties. Tuning the monoelemental crystals into bielemental ones between group-VA elements is able to preserve their advantages of unique structures, modulate their properties, and further expand their multifunctional applications. Herein, a review of the historical work is provided for both theoretical predictions and experimental advances of 2D V-V binary materials. Their various intriguing electronic properties are discussed, including band structure, carrier mobility, Rashba effect, and topological state. An emphasis is also given to their progress in fabricated approaches and potential applications. Finally, a detailed presentation on the opportunities and challenges in the future development of 2D V-V binary materials is given.

Facile Tailoring of Multidimensional Nanostructured Sb for Sodium Storage Applications

Nanoengineering of metal electrodes are of great importance for improving the energy density of alkali-ion batteries, which have been deemed one of most effective tools for addressing the poor cycle stability of metallic anodes. However, the practical application of nanostructured electrodes in batteries is still challenged by a lack of efficient, low-cost, and scalable preparation methods. Herein, we propose a facile chemical dealloying approach to the tunable preparation of multidimensional Sb nanostructures. Depending on dealloying reaction kinetics regulated by different solvents, zero-dimensional Sb nanoparticles (Sb-NP), two-dimensional Sb nanosheets (Sb-NS), and three-dimensional nanoporous Sb are controllably prepared via etching Li-Sb alloys in H₂O, H₂O-EtOH, and EtOH, respectively. Morphological evolution mechanisms of the various Sb nanostructures are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements. When applied as anodes for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), the as-prepared Sb-NS electrodes without any chemical modifications exhibit high reversible capacity of 620 mAh g^-1 and retain 90.2% of capacity after 100 cycles at 100 mA g^-1. The excellent Na⁺ storage performance observed is attributable to the two-dimensional nanostructure, which ensures high degrees of Na⁺ accessibility, robust structural integrity, and rapid electrode transport. This facile and tunable approach can broaden ways of developing high performance metal electrodes with designed nanostructures for electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications.

Control of SEI Formation for Stable Potassium-Ion Battery Anodes by Bi-MOF-Derived Nanocomposites

Bismuth (Bi)-based electrodes are highly attractive for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) while suffering from a short cycle life due to the larger diameter of K ion, leading to unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) films during continuous potassiation/depotassiation. Herein, we developed novel ultrathin carbon film@carbon nanorods@Bi nanoparticle (UCF@CNs@BiN) materials for the long cycle life anode of PIBs. Bi nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in carbon nanorods, which not only provides a high-speed channel for ion transport but also accommodates the volume change of Bi nanoparticles during continuous potassiation/depotassiation processes. The UCF@CN matrix can direct most SEI film formation on the surface of the carbon film, not on the surface of individual Bi nanoparticles, avoiding the fracture of the matrix. Benefiting from their unique structure, the UCF@CNs@BiN anodes exhibit an outstanding capacity of ∼425 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 and a capacity decay of 0.038% per cycle over 600 cycles. Even at a higher current density of 1000 mA g^-1, there is a capacity decay as low as 0.036% per cycle during 700 cycles. Meanwhile, this work provides a new way of utilizing the metal-organic framework structure and reveals a highly promising PIB anode.

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.

Galvanic Replacement Synthesis of Highly Uniform Sb Nanotubes: Reaction Mechanism and Enhanced Sodium Storage Performance

One-dimensional nanotubes are very useful for achieving excellent performance in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to the fact that tubular structures can effectively alleviate the structural strain and shorten the ion diffusion length during repeated cycling. In this work, we report a Cu₂Sb-mediated growth strategy to controllably fabricate highly uniform Sb nanotubes (NTs), as well as Cu@Cu₂Sb and Cu₂Sb@Sb composite NTs, via a facile galvanic replacement reaction using Cu nanowires (NWs) as sacrificial templates. Benefiting from their structural merits, the Sb NTs manifest excellent sodium storage performance with superior rate performance (286 mAh g^-1 at 10 A g^-1) and extraordinary cycling stability (342 mAh g^-1 after 6000 cycles at 1 A g^-1). Furthermore, a full cell with Sb NTs as anode and Na₃(VOPO₄)₂F as cathode exhibits a high energy density (252 Wh kg^-1) and high output voltage (2.7 V), revealing their significant application promise in the next-generation SIBs.