Carbon-Based Alloy-Type Composite Anode Materials toward Sodium-Ion Batteries

In the scenario of renewable clean energy gradually replacing fossil energy, grid-scale energy storage systems are urgently necessary, where Na-ion batteries (SIBs) could supply crucial support, due to abundant Na raw materials and a similar electrochemical mechanism to Li-ion batteries. The limited energy density is one of the major challenges hindering the commercialization of SIBs. Alloy-type anodes with high theoretical capacities provide good opportunities to address this issue. However, these anodes suffer from the large volume expansion and inferior conductivity, which induce rapid capacity fading, poor rate properties, and safety issues. Carbon-based alloy-type composites (CAC) have been extensively applied in the effective construction of anodes that improved electrochemical performance, as the carbon component could alleviate the volume change and increase the conductivity. Here, state-of-the-art CAC anode materials applied in SIBs are summarized, including their design principle, characterization, and electrochemical performance. The corresponding alloying mechanism along with its advantages and disadvantages is briefly presented. The crucial roles and working mechanism of the carbon matrix in CAC anodes are discussed in depth. Lastly, the existing challenges and the perspectives are proposed. Such an understanding critically paves the way for tailoring and designing suitable alloy-type anodes toward practical applications.

Facile synthesis of a molybdenum phosphide@carbon nanocomposite as an advanced anode material for sodium-ion batteries

The MoP@C nanocomposite was successfully fabricated via a facile sol–gel approach, which demonstrated excellent electrochemical properties as a sodium-ion battery anode.

A graphite-modified natural stibnite mineral as a high-performance anode material for sodium-ion storage

Recently, Sb₂S₃ has drawn extensive interest in the energy storage domain due to its high theoretical capacity of 946 mA h g⁻¹. However, the inherent disadvantages of serious volume expansion and poor conductivity restrict the development of Sb₂S₃ for its application in SIBs. In addition, chemical synthesis is a main method to prepare Sb₂S₃, which is commonly accompanied by environmental pollution and excessive energy consumption. Herein, the natural stibnite mineral was directly applied in SIBs after modification with graphite via an effective and facile approach. The novel composites exhibited excellent electrochemical properties with higher reversible capacity, better rate capability and more outstanding cycling stability than the bare natural stibnite mineral. Briefly, this study is anticipated to provide a reference for the development of natural minerals as first-hand materials in energy storage and a new approach to improve natural stibnite mineral composites for their application as anodes in SIBs.

The natural stibnite mineral modified with graphite provides a reference for the development of natural mineral as first-hand materials in energy storage and a new approach to improve natural stibnite mineral composites as anode in SIBs.