Research Development on Sodium-Ion Batteries

Energy production and storage technologies have attracted a great deal of attention for day-to-day applications. In recent decades, advances in lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology have improved living conditions around the globe. LIBs are used in most mobile electronic devices as well as in zero-emission electronic vehicles. However, there are increasing concerns regarding load leveling of renewable energy sources and the smart grid as well as the sustainability of lithium sources due to their limited availability and consequent expected price increase. Therefore, whether LIBs alone can satisfy the rising demand for small- and/or mid-to-large-format energy storage applications remains unclear. To mitigate these issues, recent research has focused on alternative energy storage systems. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as the best candidate power sources because sodium is widely available and exhibits similar chemistry to that of LIBs; therefore, SIBs are promising next-generation alternatives. Recently, sodiated layer transition metal oxides, phosphates and organic compounds have been introduced as cathode materials for SIBs. Simultaneously, recent developments have been facilitated by the use of select carbonaceous materials, transition metal oxides (or sulfides), and intermetallic and organic compounds as anodes for SIBs. Apart from electrode materials, suitable electrolytes, additives, and binders are equally important for the development of practical SIBs. Despite developments in electrode materials and other components, there remain several challenges, including cell design and electrode balancing, in the application of sodium ion cells. In this article, we summarize and discuss current research on materials and propose future directions for SIBs. This will provide important insights into scientific and practical issues in the development of SIBs.

/pdf/sodium-ion-batteries-present-and-future-gf1bd0vhq4.pdf

Sodium-ion batteries: present and future

Room-temperature stationary sodium-ion batteries have attracted great attention particularly in large-scale electric energy storage applications for renewable energy and smart grid because of the huge abundant sodium resources and low cost. In this article, a variety of electrode materials including cathodes and anodes as well as electrolytes for room-temperature stationary sodium-ion batteries are briefly reviewed. We compare the difference in storage behavior between Na and Li in their analogous electrodes and summarize the sodium storage mechanisms in the available electrode materials. This review also includes some new results from our group and our thoughts on developing new materials. Some perspectives and directions on designing better materials for practical applications are pointed out based on knowledge from the literature and our experience. Through this extensive literature review, the search for suitable electrode and electrolyte materials for stationary sodium-ion batteries is still challenging. However, after intensive research efforts, we believe that low-cost, long-life and room-temperature sodium-ion batteries would be promising for applications in large-scale energy storage system in the near future.

Room-temperature stationary sodium-ion batteries for large-scale electric energy storage

We study the synthesis and electrochemical and mechanical performance of layered free-standing papers composed of acid-exfoliated few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) flakes for use as a self-standing flexible electrode in sodium-ion batteries. Synthesis was achieved through vacuum filtration of homogeneous dispersions consisting of varying weight percent of acid-treated MoS2 flakes in GO in DI water, followed by thermal reduction at elevated temperatures. The electrochemical performance of the crumpled composite paper (at 4 mg cm–2) was evaluated as counter electrode against pure Na foil in a half-cell configuration. The electrode showed good Na cycling ability with a stable charge capacity of approximately 230 mAh g–1 with respect to total weight of the electrode with Coulombic efficiency reaching approximately 99%. In addition, static uniaxial tensile tests performed on crumpled composite papers showed high average strain to failure reaching approximately 2%.

/pdf/mos2-graphene-composite-paper-for-sodium-ion-battery-2qsnjsa9gy.pdf

MoS2/Graphene Composite Paper for Sodium-Ion Battery Electrodes

This work presents an up-to-date information on Na-based battery materials. On the one hand, it explores the feasibility of two novel energy storage systems: Na-aqueous batteries and Na–O2 technology. On the other hand, it summarises new advances on non-aqueous Na-ion systems. Although all of them can be placed under the umbrella of Na-based systems, aqueous and oxygen-based batteries are arising technologies with increasing significance in energy storage research, while non-aqueous sodium-ion technology has become one of the most important research lines in this field. These systems meet different requirements of energy storage: Na-aqueous batteries will have a determining role as a low cost and safer technology; Na–O2 systems can be the key technology to overcome the need for high energy density storage devices; and non-aqueous Na-ion batteries have application in the field of stationary energy storage.

Update on Na-based battery materials. A growing research path

High capacity Na-storage and superior cyclability of nanocomposite Sb/C anode for Na-ion batteries.

A tin(II) sulfide–carbon (SnS–C) nanocomposite is prepared by a simple high-energy mechanical milling method. XRD, SEM and TEM characterizations show that the nanocomposite is composed of well crystallized SnS nanoparticles with a size of about 15 nm, which are dispersed uniformly in the conductive carbon matrix. The SnS–C electrode exhibits a high Na storage capacity (568 mA h g−1 at 20 mA g−1) and excellent cycling stability (97.8% capacity retention over 80 cycles) as well as high-rate capability. Ex situ XRD result confirms a sequential conversion and alloying–dealloying reaction mechanism of the SnS–C electrode during the Na uptaking and extraction cycles. The superior electrochemical performance of the electrodes can be attributed to the small crystalline size of SnS and good carbon coating, which facilitate electrochemical utilization and maintain the structural integrity.

A tin(II) sulfide–carbon anode material based on combined conversion and alloying reactions for sodium-ion batteries

A Sn–SnS–C nanocomposite is prepared by simply mechanically ball-milling Sn, SnS and C powders. In this composite, Sn nanocrystals are surface-coated with SnS nanoparticles and uniformly dispersed in the carbon matrix. During discharge, the SnS particles undergo an electrochemical conversion reaction to generate Sn and Na2S nanocrystals and then the Sn particles alloy with Na to produce the NaSn alloy. The conversion reaction of SnS and the alloying reaction of Sn with Na are completely reversible, producing a very high reversible Na-storage capacity of >600 mA h g−1 at an appropriate low potential of ∼0.7 V. Since the SnS phase provides an effective buffering matrix to alleviate the volumetric change of the Sn particles during Na insertion and extraction, and also serves as a separator to prevent the aggregation of the Sn nanoparticles, the Sn–SnS–C composite anode demonstrates a very good cycling stability with 87% capacity retention over 150 cycles, possibly usable for Na-ion batteries.

A Sn–SnS–C nanocomposite as anode host materials for Na-ion batteries

SiC-Sb-C nanocomposites as high-capacity and cycling-stable anode for sodium-ion batteries

The invention discloses an anode material of a lithium-ion battery. The anode material can form alloy with sodium (Na). The anode material consists of metal M which can form the alloy with Na ions and an inert medium A, wherein the metal M which can form the alloy with the Na ions is one or more of stannum (Sn), antimony (Sb) and plumbum (Pb); and the inert medium A is one or more of a carbon material, a conducting polymer, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), silicon carbide (SiC), titanium carbide (TiC), wolfram carbide (WC), titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium boride (TiB). In the material, the metal M and the Na can be alloyed or de-alloyed through electrochemical reaction, and energy conversion is performed; and the inert medium A is mainly used for scattering, stabilizing and electrically conducting the material. The anode material of the lithium-ion battery is high in specific capacity, low in cost and environment-friendly.

Lin Wu

Papers

High capacity Na-storage and superior cyclability of nanocomposite Sb/C anode for Na-ion batteries.

A tin(II) sulfide–carbon anode material based on combined conversion and alloying reactions for sodium-ion batteries

A Sn–SnS–C nanocomposite as anode host materials for Na-ion batteries

SiC-Sb-C nanocomposites as high-capacity and cycling-stable anode for sodium-ion batteries

Anode material of lithium-ion battery