Optimization Strategies Toward Functional Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Exploration of alternative energy storage systems has been more than necessary in view of the supply risks haunting lithium‐ion batteries. Among various alternative electrochemical energy storage devices, sodium‐ion battery outstands with advantages of cost‐effectiveness and comparable energy density with lithium‐ion batteries. Thanks to the similar electrochemical mechanism, the research and development of lithium‐ion batteries have forged a solid foundation for sodium‐ion battery explorations. Advancements in sodium‐ion batteries have been witnessed in terms of superior electrochemical performance and broader application scenarios. Here, the strategies adopted to optimize the battery components (cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator, binder, current collector, etc.) and the cost, safety, and commercialization issues in sodium‐ion batteries are summarized and discussed. Based on these optimization strategies, assembly of functional (flexible, stretchable, self‐healable, and self‐chargeable) and integrated sodium‐ion batteries (−actuators, −sensors, electrochromic, etc.) have been realized. Despite these achievements, challenges including energy density, scalability, trade‐off between energy density and functionality, cost, etc. are to be addressed for sodium‐ion battery commercialization. This review aims at providing an overview of the up‐to‐date achievements in sodium‐ion batteries and serves to inspire more efforts in designing upgraded sodium‐ion batteries.

Fabrication of Hollow and Hierarchical CuO Micro–Nano Cubes Wrapped by Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Prospective Anode for SIBs

“…The past decade has witnessed a rapid development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which have been widely applied in various domains such as portable electronics, clean energy storage systems, and new-energy mobile vehicles due to their high operating potential, long cycling life, superior energy density, and excellent rate capability. − However, the limited reserves and uneven distributions of lithium resources on earth extensively restrict the further application of LIBs . In recent years, SIBs have attracted tremendous scientific interest owing to the abundant and cost-effective resources of sodium compared to lithium, and thus have been considered as a promising candidate for future energy storage systems. − However, the larger radius of Na + (0.106 nm) compared to Li + (0.076 nm) would induce significant volume variations and sluggish kinetics of target ions during the charge/discharge process, thereby extremely limiting the development of SIBs …”

Routes to high-performance layered oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries

“…Although cracking and surface phase change are considered to be two widely accepted degradation mechanisms in LIBs, they remain elusive in SIB layered cathodes. 80,158 Therefore, to comprehend the degradation mechanisms, there is an urgent need for systematic and in-depth research and development of bulk cathode materials with robust crystal structures to achieve a better battery performance. A P2-Na 2/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 2/3 O 2 (P2-NNM) cathode was prepared by Wang et al , which was taken as a prototype to systematically investigate the detrimental consequences of cycling at high voltage, and they proposed the stress corrosion cracking mechanism including crack initiation, surface corrosion, transition metal dissolution and condensation responsible for crack propagation.…”

Nanoconfinement of ultra-small Bi2Te3 nanocrystals on reduced graphene oxide: a pathway to high-performance sodium-ion battery anodes

“…3,4 Consequently, the primary challenge faced by exploring suitable SIB anode materials lies in achieving excellent structural stability while accommodating volume changes induced by Na ion transport and providing rapid Na ion transport capabilities. 5,6 In recent years, there has been significant emphasis on the development of efficient anode substances to increase the capacity of sodium-ion batteries. 7,8 Due to their high theoretical conversion capacity, sulfides, selenides, and metal oxides have gained considerable attention among alternative materials.…”