The development of sodium-ion batteries for large-scale applications requires the synthesis of electrode materials with high capacity, high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), high rate performance, long cycle life, and low cost. A rational design of freestanding anode materials is reported for sodium-ion batteries, consisting of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets aligned vertically on carbon paper derived from paper towel. The hierarchical structure enables sufficient electrode/electrolyte interaction and fast electron transportation. Meanwhile, the unique architecture can minimize the excessive interface between carbon and electrolyte, enabling high ICE. The as-prepared MoS2@carbon paper composites as freestanding electrodes for sodium-ion batteries can liberate the traditional electrode manufacturing procedure, thereby reducing the cost of sodium-ion batteries. The freestanding MoS2@carbon paper electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity, high ICE, good cycling performance, and excellent rate capability. By exploiting in situ Raman spectroscopy, the reversibility of the phase transition from 2H-MoS2 to 1T-MoS2 is observed during the sodium-ion intercalation/deintercalation process. This work is expected to inspire the development of advanced electrode materials for high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

MoS2 Nanosheets Vertically Aligned on Carbon Paper: A Freestanding Electrode for Highly Reversible Sodium Ion Batteries

With the rapid expansion in energy demands and depletion of fossil fuel reservoirs, the importance of clean energy production and storage has increased drastically. The renewable energy recourses are cost effective, sustainable and carbon dioxide emission free alternatives. Nevertheless, this energy is not always available and needs to be stored. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are rapidly used in various applications such as powering electronics, electric vehicles and grid energy storage. However, the increasing concerns regarding load leveling of renewable energy and rise in cost of LIBs due to limited availability of lithium reserves arises doubts whether LIBs alone can meet the rising demands for mid-to-large-scale energy storage. Therefore, attention has been shifted towards development of sodium ion batteries (SIBs) which have wide reserves and low precursor cost and thus is considered as appropriate choice for solar and wind energy development. The prime problem encountered in development of large-scale SIBs is the low effectiveness of appropriate anode material because of large size and sluggish kinetics of Na ions. A comprehensive study regarding anode materials is reported focusing on storage mechanism and structural changes involved during storage of Na ions in various classes of anode materials including carbon-based materials, conversion, conversion/alloying and organic materials. A brief overview of various components of SIBs such as cathode, electrolyte and separator are also discussed.

Prospects in anode materials for sodium ion batteries - A review

Co nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanocubes (Co/NCs) for applications as anode materials in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries were synthesized by calcining Co-based metal-organic framework. Sizes of Co nanoparticles were ∼15 nm according to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical performances of the as-prepared anode nanocube composite at 700 °C showed a high initial capacity of 1375.1 mAh g-1 in the voltage range of 0.01-3.0 V at the current rate of 0.1 A g-1. After 100 cycles, capacity remained at 688.6 mAh g-1. Thereinto, the role of Co nanoparticles in electrochemical reaction was also elucidated by in situ XRD experiment. Capacity increase of Co/NCs at the high currents was observed, which are potentially caused by the activation of electrode and pseudocapacitance during cycling. High surface area and abundant mesopores contributed to the improved electrochemical performances of the anode, providing numerous pathways and sites for Li+ transfer and storage and accordingly contributing to pseudocapacitance capacity.

ZIF-67-Derived N-Doped Co/C Nanocubes as High-Performance Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have been considered as a promising new-generation energy storage device because they can be used as a replacement or complement to lithium-ion batteries. However, the large radius and the sluggish diffusion kinetics of K+ make it a great challenge to develop high-performance electrode materials for PIBs. Herein, a novel nanocomposite of SnSb alloy confined in N-doped three-dimensional porous carbon (3D SnSb@NC) is fabricated by using the NaCl template-assisted in situ pyrolysis strategy and investigated as an anode for PIBs based on dimethoxyethane (DME)-based and conventional ester-based (EC/DEC) electrolytes. The uniformly anchored SnSb nanoparticles could effectively alleviate dramatic volume variation during potassiation/depotassiation owing to the synergistic effect of Sn and Sb. N-doped 3D porous carbon prevents the aggregation of SnSb nanoparticles, provides abundant active sites for K+, facilitates sufficient infiltration of the electrolyte, and serves as a conductive network to accelerate the electron transport. Moreover, the DME-based electrolyte shows superior wettability to the 3D SnSb@NC electrode and forms a thinner SEI film, resulting in negligible surface film impedance and reduced charge transfer impedance. Consequently, the rational 3D SnSb@NC structure coupled with an optimized DME-based electrolyte makes PIBs deliver a high reversible capacity of 357.2 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1, an remarkable initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 90.1%, good rate capability, and excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 80% after 200 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. This work presents an advanced concept for designing multifunctional anode materials with compatible electrolytes for high-performance PIBs.

A nanosized SnSb alloy confined in N-doped 3D porous carbon coupled with ether-based electrolytes toward high-performance potassium-ion batteries

Abstract Despite great advances in sodium-ion battery developments, the search for high energy and stable anode materials remains a challenge. Alloy or conversion-typed anode materials are attractive candidates of high specific capacity and low voltage potential, yet their applications are hampered by the large volume expansion and hence poor electrochemical reversibility and fast capacity fade. Here, we use antimony (Sb) as an example to demonstrate the use of yolk-shell structured anodes for high energy Na-ion batteries. The Sb@C yolk-shell structure prepared by controlled reduction and selective removal of Sb 2 O 3 from carbon coated Sb 2 O 3 nanoparticles can accommodate the Sb swelling upon sodiation and improve the structural/electrical integrity against pulverization. It delivers a high specific capacity of ~ 554 mAh g −1 , good rate capability (315 mhA g −1 at 10 C rate) and long cyclability (92% capacity retention over 200 cycles). Full-cells of O3-Na 0.9 [Cu 0.22 Fe 0.30 Mn 0.48 ]O 2 cathodes and Sb@C-hard carbon composite anodes demonstrate a high specific energy of ~ 130 Wh kg −1 (based on the total mass of cathode and anode) in the voltage range of 2.0–4.0 V, ~ 1.5 times energy of full-cells with similar design using hard carbon anodes.

Yolk-Shell Structured Sb@C Anodes for High Energy Na-Ion Batteries

Octahedral Sb2O3 as high-performance anode for lithium and sodium storage

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) has drawn widespread attention as an ideal candidate anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its high specific capacity of 946 mA h g−1 in conversion and alloy reactions. Nevertheless, volume expansion, a common flaw for conversion-alloy type materials during the sodiation and desodiation processes, is bad for the structure of materials and thus obstructs the application of antimony sulfide in energy storage. A common approach to solve this problem is by introducing carbon or other matrices as buffer material. However, the common preparation of Sb2S3 could result in environmental pollution and excessive energy consumption in most cases. To incorporate green chemistry, natural stibnite ore (Sb2S3) after modification via carbon sheets was applied as a first-hand material in SIBs through a facile and efficient strategy. The unique composites exhibited an outstanding electrochemical performance with a higher reversible capacity, a better rate capability, as well as an excellent cycling stability compared to that of the natural stibnite ore. In short, the study is expected to offer a new approach to improve Sb2S3 composites as an anode in SIBs and a reference for the development of natural ore as a first-hand material in energy storage.

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Natural stibnite ore (Sb2S3) embedded in sulfur-doped carbon sheets: enhanced electrochemical properties as anode for sodium ions storage

The invention provides phase-change energy storage heat-insulation solid wood. The wood comprises a solid wood component, wherein magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles are formed in a conduit and a cell cavity of the solid wood component through in-situ attached growth, and the conduit and the cell cavity are filled with composite phase-change energy storage materials of polyethylene glycol 600 and polyethylene glycol 800; and a protective coating is painted on the surface of the heat-insulation solid wood. The heat-insulation solid wood is capable of absorbing heat to withstand excessive rise of an indoor temperature during the day, releasing phase-change latent heat for thermal retention and cold dispelling during the night, and maintaining a human body within a comfort temperature range. The invention further provides a manufacturing method of the heat-insulation solid wood. The method comprises the steps of firstly processing the solid wood component according to the required dimension; carrying out degreasing and drying pretreatment on the solid wood component, forming the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the solid wood component through in-situ attached growth and then impregnating and filling the composite phase-change energy storage material of the polyethylene glycol 600 and the polyethylene glycol 800; and finally carrying out sanding shaping and painting the protecting coating. According to the manufacturing method, the process is simple and the cost is low.

Phase-change energy storage heat-insulation solid wood and manufacturing method thereof

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.

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Deng Mingxiang

Papers

Octahedral Sb2O3 as high-performance anode for lithium and sodium storage

Natural stibnite ore (Sb2S3) embedded in sulfur-doped carbon sheets: enhanced electrochemical properties as anode for sodium ions storage

Phase-change energy storage heat-insulation solid wood and manufacturing method thereof

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

Monocrystal Cu3Mo2O9 Confined in Polyaniline Protective Layer: an Effective Strategy for Promoting Lithium Storage Stability