Surface encapsulation of layered oxide cathode material with NiTiO_(3) for enhanced cycling stability of Na-ion batteries

In Na-ion batteries,O3-type layered oxide cathode materials encounter challenges such as particle cracking,oxygen loss,electrolyte side reactions,and multi-phase transitions during the charge/discharge process.This study focuses on surface coating with NiTiO_(3) achieved via secondary heat treatment using a coating precursor and the surface material.Through in-situ x-ray diffraction(XRD)and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry(DEMS),along with crystal structure characterizations of post-cycling materials,it was determined that the NiTiO_(3) coating layer facilitates the formation of a stable lattice structure,effectively inhibiting lattice oxygen loss and reducing side reaction with the electrolyte.This enhancement in cycling stability was evidenced by a capacity retention of approximately 74%over 300 cycles at 1 C,marking a significant 30%improvement over the initial sample.Furthermore,notable advancements in rate performance were observed.Experimental results indicate that a stable and robust surface structure substantially enhances the overall stability of the bulk phase,presenting a novel approach for designing layered oxide cathodes with higher energy density.

Biphase-to-monophase structure evolution of Na_(0.766+x)Li_(x)Ni_(0.33-x)Mn_(0.5)Fe_(0.1)Ti_(0.07)O_(2) toward ultradurable Na-ion batteries

Layered composite oxide materials with O3/P2 biphasic crystallographic structure typically demonstrate a combination of high capacities of the O3 phase and high operation voltages of the P2 phase.However,their practical applications are seriously obstructed by difficulties in thermodynamic phase regulation,complicated electrochemical phase transition,and unsatisfactory cycling life.Herein,we propose an efficient structural evolution strategy from biphase to monophase of Na_(0.766+x)Li_(x)Ni_(0.33-x)Mn_(0.5)Fe_(0.1)Ti_(0.07)O_(2) through Li+substitution.The role of Li+substitution not only simplifies the unfavorable phase transition by altering the local coordination of transition metal(TM)cations but also stabilizes the cathode–electrolyte interphase to prevent the degradation of TM cations during battery cycling.As a result,the thermodynamically robust O_(3)-Na_(0.826)Li_(0.06)Ni_(0.27)Mn_(0.5)Fe_(0.1)Ti_(0.07)O_(2) cathode delivers a high capacity of 139.4 mAh g^(-1) at 0.1 C and shows prolonged cycling life at high rates,with capacity retention of 81.6%at 5 C over 500 cycles.This work establishes a solid relationship between the thermodynamic structure evolution and electrochemistry of layered cathode materials,contributing to the development of long-life sodium-ion batteries.

Unravelling the ion transport and the interphase properties of a mixed olivine cathode for Na-ion battery

The replacement of Li by Na in an analogue battery to the commercial Li-ion one appears a sustainable strategy to overcome the several concerns triggered by the increased demand for the electrochemical energy storage.However,the apparently simple change of the alkali metal represents a challenging step which requires notable and dedicated studies.Therefore,we investigate herein the features of a NaFe_(0.6)Mn_(0.4)PO_(4)(NFMP)cathode with triphylite structure achieved from the conversion of a LiFe_(0.6)Mn_(0.4)PO_(4)(LFMP)olivine for application in Na-ion battery.The work initially characterizes the structure,morphology and performances in sodium cell of NFMP,achieving a maximum capacity exceeding 100 mAh g^(−1)at a temperature of 55℃,adequate rate capability,and suitable retention confirmed by ex-situ measurements.Subsequently,the study compares in parallel key parameters of the NFMP and LFMP such as Na^(+)/Li^(+)ions diffusion,interfacial characteristics,and reaction mechanism in Na/Li cells using various electrochemical techniques.The data reveal that relatively limited modifications of NFMP chemistry,structure and morphology compared to LFMP greatly impact the reaction mechanism,kinetics and electrochemical features.These changes are ascribed to the different physical and chemical features of the two compounds,the slower mobility of Na^(+)with respect to Li^(+),and a more resistive electrode/electrolyte interphase of sodium compared with lithium.Relevantly,the study reveals analogue trends of the charge transfer resistance and the ion diffusion coefficient in NFMP and LFMP during the electrochemical process in half-cell.Hence,the NFMP achieved herein is suggested as a possible candidate for application in a low-cost,efficient,and environmentally friendly Na-ion battery.

P2-Na_(2/3)Ni_(2/3)Te_(1/3)O_(2)Cathode for Na-ion Batteries with High Voltage and Excellent Stability

Air-stable layered structured cathodes with high voltage and good cycling stability are highly desired for the practical application of Na-ion batteries.Herein,we report a P2-Na_(2/3)Ni_(2/3)Te_(1/3)O_(2) cathode that is stable in ambient air with an average operating voltage of~3.8 V,demonstrating excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of more than 92.7%after 500 cycles at 20 mA g^(-1) and good rate capability with 91.9%capacity utilization at 500 mA g^(-1) with respect to capacity at 5 mA g^(-1) between 2.0 and 4.0 V.When the upper cutoff voltage is increased to 4.4 V,P2-Na_(2/3)Ni_(2/3)Te_(1/3)O_(2) delivers a reversible capacity of 71.9 mAh g^(-1) and retains 91.8%of the capacity after 100 cycles at 20 mA g^(-1).The charge compensation during charge/discharge is mainly due to the redox couple of Ni^(2+)/Ni^(3+)in the host with a small amount of contribution from oxygen.The stable structure of the material without phase transformation and with small volume change during charge-discharge allows it to give excellent cycle performance especially when the upper cutoff voltage is not higher than 4.2 V.

Hard carbon derived from rice husk as low cost negative electrodes in Na-ion batteries

Here,we report the synthesis of hard carbon materials(RH) made from natural rice husk through a single pyrolysis process and their application as an anode in sodium-ion batteries.The studies show that the electrochemical properties of RHs are affected by the treatment temperatures,which determine the materials morphology,in particular,their degree of graphitization and extent of continuous channels(nanovoids).The latter are accessible to sodium ions and significantly contribute to charge storage capacity of the produced anodes.The RHs obtained at 1600 °C deliver the highest reversible capacity of276 mAh g^(-1) mainly due to insertion of sodium ions into the nanovoids.This work deepens the basic understanding of the influence of the carbonization temperature on the sodium storage mechanism.

Growth of SnO_2 Nanoflowers on N-doped Carbon Nanofibers as Anode for Li-and Na-ion Batteries

It is urgent to solve the problems of the dramatic volume expansion and pulverization of SnO_2 anodes during cycling process in battery systems. To address this issue, we design a hybrid structure of N-doped carbon fibers@SnO_2 nanoflowers(NC@SnO_2) to overcome it in this work. The hybrid NC@SnO_2 is synthesized through the hydrothermal growth of SnO_2 nanoflowers on the surface of N-doped carbon fibers obtained by electrospinning. The NC is introduced not only to provide a support framework in guiding the growth of the SnO_2 nanoflowers and prevent the flower-like structures from agglomeration, but also serve as a conductive network to accelerate electronic transmission along one-dimensional structure effectively. When the hybrid NC@SnO_2 was served as anode, it exhibits a high discharge capacity of 750 Ah g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1) after 100 cycles in Li-ion battery and 270 mAh g^(-1) at 100 mA g^(-1) for 100 cycles in Na-ion battery, respectively.

High-Performance Na-Ion Storage of S-Doped Porous Carbon Derived from Conjugated Microporous Polymers

Na-ion batteries(NIBs)have attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to the high abundance and low cost of Na.It is well known that S doping can improve the electrochemical performance of carbon materials for NIBs.However,the current methods for S doping in carbons normally involve toxic precursors or rigorous conditions.In this work,we report a creative and facile strategy for preparing S-doped porous carbons(SCs)via the pyrolysis of conjugated microporous polymers(CMPs).Briefly,thiophene-based CMPs served as the precursors and doping sources simultaneously.Simple direct carbonization of CMPs produced S-doped carbon materials with highly porous structures.When used as an anode for NIBs,the SCs exhibited a high reversible capacity of 440 mAh g?1 at 50 mA g?1 after 100 cycles,superior rate capability,and excellent cycling stability(297 mAh g?1 after 1000 cycles at 500 mA g?1),outperforming most S-doped carbon materials reported thus far.The excellent performance of the SCs is attributed to the expanded lattice distance after S doping.Furthermore,we employed ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to investigate the electrochemical reaction mechanism of the SCs during sodiation-desodiation,which can highlight the role of doped S for Na-ion storage.

Recent advances on flexible electrodes for Na-ion batteries and Li–S batteries

Flexible energy storage devices are essential for emerging flexible electronics. The existing state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries are slowly reaching their limitation in terms of cost and energy density. Hence, flexible Na-ion batteries (SIBs) with abundanee Na resources and Li-S batteries with high energy density become the alternative for the Li-ion batteries in future. This review summarizes the recent advances in the development of flexible electrode materials for SIBs with metallic matrix and carb on aceous matrix such as carb on nano-tubes, carbon nano-fiber, graphene, carbon cloth, carbon fiber cloth, and cotton textiles. Then, the potential prototype flexible full SIBs are discussed. Further, the recent progress in the development of flexible electrode materials for Li-S batteries based on carb on nano-fiber, carb on nano-tubes, graphene, and cotton textiles is reviewed. Moreover, the design strategies of suitable interlayer, separator, electrolyte, and electrodes to prevent the dissolution and shuttle effect of polysulfides in flexible Li-S batteries are provided. Finally some prospective investigation trends towards future research of flexible SIBs and Li-S batteries are also proposed and discussed. The scientific and engineering knowledge gained on flexible SIBs and Li-S batteries provides conceivable development for practical application in near future.

Hard carbon derived from coconut shells,walnut shells,and corn silk biomass waste exhibiting high capacity for Na-ion batteries

In recent years,hard carbon materials have gained significant interest as anode materials for Na-ion batteries.Biomass waste is considered one of the most interesting,renewable,available,and cost-effective precursor to obtain hard carbon(HC);however,HC properties must be finely tuned to achieve performance comparable to those provided by Li-ion batteries.In this work,three biomass wastes(coconut shells,walnut shells,and corn silk) were evaluated as potential precursors for HC preparation involving a pyrolysis process and subsequent acid washing to remove the inorganic impurities.All obtained materials exhibited low and similar specific surface areas(<10 m^(2)·g^(-1)), but they presented different structures and surface functionalities.The walnut shell HC possessed a lower amount of inorganic impurities and oxygen-based functional groups compared to the coconut shell and corn silk HCs,leading to higher initial coulombic efficiency(iCE).The structural organization was higher in the case of the walnut shell HC,while the corn silk HC revealed a heterogeneous structure combining both highly disordered carbon and localized graphitized domains.All HCs delivered high initial reversible capacities between 293 and 315 mAh g^(-1) at 50 mA g^(-1) current rate,which remained rather stable during long-term cycling.The best capacity(293 mAh g^(-1) after 100 charge/discharge cycles) and highest capacity retention(93%) was achieved in walnut HCs in half-cells,which could be associated with its higher sp2 C content,better organized structure,and fewer impurities.An "adsorption-insertion" Na storage mechanism is suggested based on several techniques.The walnut HCs exhibited an attractive energy density of 279 Wh/kg when tested in full cells.

Failure analysis with a focus on thermal aspect towards developing safer Na-ion batteries

Safety requirements stimulate Na-based batteries to evolve from high-temperature Na–S batteries to room-temperature Na-ion batteries(NIBs).Even so,NIBs may still cause thermal runaway due to the external unexpected accidents and internal high activity of electrodes or electrolytes,which has not been comprehensively summarized yet.In this review,we summarize the significant advances about the failure mechanisms and related strategies to build safer NIBs from the selection of electrodes,electrolytes and the construction of electrode/electrolyte interfaces.Considering the safety risk,the thermal behaviors are emphasized which will deepen the understanding of thermal stability of different NIBs and accelerate the exploitation of safe NIBs.

Understanding the improved performance of sulfur-doped interconnected carbon microspheres for Na-ion storage

As one of the low-cost energy storage systems,Na-ion batteries(NIBs)have received tremendous attention.However,the performance of current anode materials still cannot meet the requirements of NIBs.In our work,we obtain sulfur-doped interconnected carbon microspheres(S-CSs)via a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent sulfurizing treatment.Our S-CSs exhibit an ultrahigh reversible capacity of 520 mAh g^(-1) at 100 mA g^(-1) after 50 cycles and an excellent rate capability of 257 mAh g^(-1),even at a high current density of 2 A g^(-1).The density functional theory calculations demonstrate that sulfur doping in carbon favors the adsorption of Na atom during the sodiation process,which is accountable for the performance enhancement.Furthermore,we also utilize operando Raman spectroscopy to analyze the electrochemical reaction of our S-CSs,which further highlights the sulfur doping in improving Na-ion storage performance.

Degradation mechanism of tin phosphide as Na-ion battery negative electrode

The degradation mechanism of an Sn_4P_3 electrode as Na-ion battery anode was investigated by using a transmission electron microscopic observation. At the first desodiation, we confirmed that Sn nanoparticles with 6 nm in size were dispersed in an amorphous-like P matrix.Compared to this, we observed aggregated Sn particles with sizes exceeding 50 nm after the drastic capacity fading. The capacity fading mechanism was for the first time confirmed to be Sn aggregation. To improve the capacity decay, we carried out the two kinds of chargeàdischarge cycling tests under the reduced volume changes of Sn particles and P matrix by limiting desodiation reactions of Nae Sn and Na3P, respectively. The Sn_4P_3 electrode exhibited an excellent cyclability with the discharge capacity of 500 mA hg^(-1) for 420 cycles under the limited desodiation, whereas the capacity decay was accelerated under the limited sodiation. The results suggest that the Sn aggregation can be improved by the reduced volume change of the P matrix, and that it is very effective for improving anode performance of Sn_4P_3 electrode.

Metal–organic framework derived hierarchical porous TiO_2 nanopills as a super stable anode for Na-ion batteries

Hierarchical porous TiOnanopills were synthesized using a titanium metal-organic framework MIL-125（Ti） as precursor. The as-synthesized TiOnanopills owned a large specific surface area of 102 m/g and unique porous structure. Furthermore, the obtained TiOnanopills were applied as anode materials for Na-ion batteries for the first time. The as-synthesized TiOnanopills achieved a high discharge capacity of 196.4 m Ah/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g. A discharge capacity of 115.9 m Ah/g was obtained at a high current density of 0.5 A/g and the capacity retention was remained as high as 90% even after 3000 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to its unique hierarchical porous feature.

Insights on the mechanism of Na-ion storage in expanded graphite anode

Currently,Na-ion battery(NIB) has become one of the most potential alternatives for Li-ion batteries due to the safety and low cost.As a promising anode for Na-ion storage,expanded graphite has attracted considerable attention.However,the sodiation-desodiation process is still unclear.In our work,we obtain expanded graphite through slight modified Hummer's method and subsequent thermal treatment,which exhibits excellent cycling stability.Even at a high current density of 1 A g^(-1),our expanded graphite still remains a high reversible capacity of 100 mA h g^(-1) after 2600 cycles.Furthermore,we also investigate the electrochemical mechanism of our expanded graphite for Na-ion storage by operando Raman technique,which illuminate the electrochemical reaction during different sodiation-desodiation processes.

Potassium pre-inserted K1.04Mn8O16 as cathode materials for aqueous Li-ion and Na-ion hybrid capacitors

For the applications of aqueous Li-ion hybrid capacitors and Na-ion hybrid capacitors,potassium ions are pre-inserted into MnO2 tunnel structure,the as-prepared K1.04Mn8 O16 materials consist of nanoparticles and nanorods were prepared by facile high-temperature solid-state reaction.The as-prepared materials were well studied and they show outstanding electrochemical behavior.We assembled hybrid supercapacitors with commercial activated carbon(YEC-8 A)as anode and K1.04Mn8 O16 as cathode.It shows high energy and power densities.Li-ion capacitors reach a high energy density of 127.61 Wh kg-1 at the power density of 99.86 W kg-1 and Na-ion capacitor obtains 170.96 Wh kg-1 at 133.79 W kg-1.In addition,the hybrid supercapacitors demonstrate excellent cycling performance which maintain 97%capacitance retention for Li-ion capacitor and 85%for Na-ion capacitor after 10,000 cycles.

Recent Progress in Presodiation Technique for High-Performance Na-Ion Batteries

Na-ion batteries(NIBs) have been attracting growing interests in recent years with the increasing demand of energy storage owing to their dependence on more abundant Na than Li. The exploration of the industrialization of NIBs is also on the march, where some challenges are still limiting its step. For instance, the relatively low initial Coulombic efficiency(ICE) of anode can cause undesired energy density loss in the full cell. In addition to the strategies from the sight of materials design that to improve the capacity and ICE of electrodes, presodiation technique is another important method to efficiently offset the irreversible capacity and enhance the energy density. Meanwhile, the slow release of the extra Na during the cycling is able to improve the cycling stability.In this review, we would like to provide a general insight of presodiation technique for high-performance NIBs.The recent research progress including the principles and strategies of presodiation will be introduced, and some remaining challenges as well as our perspectives will be discussed. This review aims to exhibit the basic knowledge of presodiation to inspire the researchers for future studies.

Hard carbons derived from pine nut shells as anode materials for Na-ion batteries

Hard carbons as promising anode materials for Na-ion batteries(NIBs) have captured extensive attention because of their low operation voltage, easy synthesis process, and competitive specific capacity. However, there are still several disadvantages, such as high cost and low initial coulombic efficiency, which limit their large-scale commercial applications.Herein, pine nut shells(PNSs), a low-cost biomass waste, are used as precursors to prepare hard carbon materials. Via a series of washing and heat treatment procedures, a pine nut shell hard carbon(PNSHC)-1400 sample has been obtained and delivers a reversible capacity of around 300 mAh/g, a high initial coulombic efficiency of 84%, and good cycling performance. These excellent Na storage properties indicate that PNSHC is one of the most promising candidates of hard carbon anodes for NIBs.

Enhancing the cycling stability of Na-ion batteries by bonding MoS2 on assembled carbon-based materials

Room temperature Na-ion batteries(SIBs) show great potential for use as renewable energy storage systems.However, the large-scale application of SIBs has been hindered by the lack of an ideal SIBs anode material. We synthesized MoS2 on carbonized graphene-chitosan(G-C) using the hydrothermal method. The strong interaction between the MoS2 and the G-C greatly improved the electron transport rate and maintained the structural stability of the electrode, which lead to both an excellent rate capability and long cycle stability. The G-C monolith was proven to enhance the electrical conductivity of the composites and served as a matrix for uniformly dispersing active MoS2 nanosheets(NSs), as well as being a buffer material to adapt to changes in volume during the cycle.Serving as an anode material for SIBs, the MoS2-G-C electrode showed good cycling stability(527.3mAh g-1 at100 m A g-1 after 200 cycles), excellent rate capability, and a long cycle life(439.1 m Ah g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 200 cycles).

Mg-doped layered oxide cathode for Na-ion batteries

Na-ion batteries(NIBs)are regarding as the optimum complement for Li-ion batteries along with the rapid development of stationary energy storage systems.In order to meet the commercial demands of cathodes for NIBs,O3-type Cu containing layered oxide Na_(0.9)0Cu_(0.22)Fe_(0.30)Mn_(0.48O_(2))with good comprehensive performance and low-cost element components is very promising for the practical use.However,only part of the Cu^(3+)/Cu^(2+)redox couple participated in the redox reaction,thus impairing the specific capacity of the cathode materials.Herein,Mg2+-doped O3-Na0.90Mg0.08Cu0.22Fe0.30Mn0.40O_(2)layered oxide without Mn3+was synthesized successfully,which exhibited improved reversible specific capacity of 118 mAh/g in the voltage range of 2.4-4.0 V at 0.2 C,corresponding to the intercalation/deintercalation of 0.47 Na+(0.1 more than that of Na_(0.9)0Cu_(0.22)Fe_(0.30)Mn_(0.48O_(2))).This work demonstrates an important strategy to obtain advanced layered oxide cathodes for NIBs.

Ionic covalent organic frameworks with tailored anionic redox chemistry and selective ion transport for high-performance Na-ion cathodes

Employing cathode materials with multiple redox couples and electrolytes with efficient cation transport kinetics are two effective approaches to improving the electrochemical performance of batteries.In this work,for the first time,we present a design strategy of simultaneously realizing reversible cationic and anionic redox chemistries as well as selective anion/cation transport in the viologen-based COFs(BAVCOF:X,coordinated anions of X=Cl^(-),Br^(-),I^(-),and ClO_(4)^(-))for high-performance Na-ion cathodes.Besides the cationic redox of viologen segments,the different redox activities of anions effectively tune the total capacities of the COFs.Meanwhile,electrochemical analysis and ab-initial molecular dynamics(AIMD)calculation illustrate that the anion/cation transport kinetics of electrolytes caged in the COFs'channels can be selectively tuned by the coordinated anions.As a result,combining high-potential Br-/Br_(2)redox couple,cationic redox of viologen segments,and enhanced Na+transport kinetics,the BAV-COF:Brdemonstrates stable performance with energy densities of 358.7 and 145.2 Wh kg^(-1)at power densities of 116.5 and 2124.1 W kg^(-1),respectively.This study offers new insight into the fabrication of organic cathodes with anionic redox and the advantages of COFs electrode materials in anion/cation transport selectivity for energy storage applications.