A Review of the Structural Design of Anode Materials in Sodium-Ion Batteries Based on MXenes and Their Composites

Abstract

The typical two-dimensional layered structure materials, MXenes, are widely used in energy conversion and storage due to their high conductivity, ion transport ability, and rich surface structures. Recently, MXenes and their composites have been widely employed in secondary batteries, especially sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), with obvious performance improvement. As anodic materials, MXenes, metal oxides, metal sulfides, and other materials contain certain advantages in Na+ storage, but they individually also suffer from some issues and challenges, such as low conductivity and serious volume change, as well as the associated low capacity and poor cyclability. By virtue of the advantages of MXenes, with their high conductivity and ultrathin two-dimensional structures, the construction of surface-functionalized MXenes and MXene-based composites could effectively improve the conductivity and mass-transport properties of composites, alleviate volume expansion, and, thus, enhance the capacity properties, rate performances, and cycle stability of SIBs. Herein, we review the latest research status of the structural design of MXenes and Mxene-based materials, as well as their applications in SIBs. We briefly introduce the research background and introduce MXenes and SIBs, and focus on their structural designs and corresponding applications in SIBs. Finally, the important challenges of MXene-based materials applied to SIBs are discussed, and the future prospects of MXene-based composite developments in SIBs are presented.

Recent Advances in Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

“…Moreover, the outstanding mechanical properties together with the unique flexibility endow it with high endurance to both stress and strain, which makes it very suitable for the application as electrode materials with high capacities (Figure 4a) [117]. Currently, various materials have been explored, including transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes), black phosphorus, as well as transition metal oxides (TMOs) [118,119]. Typically, transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) as one of the burgeoning anode materials exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and surface hydrophilicity [120].…”

Theoretical investigation of Janus Ti2BST (T = O, Se) monolayers as anode materials for Na/K-ion batteries

“…Two-dimensional (2D) materials used as anodes for NIBs and KIBs have received widespread interest owing to their high special surface area, plentiful active sites, and superior mechanical properties. Many 2D materials have been explored as anodes, and they offer outstanding electrochemical properties for NIBs and KIBs, such as carbon allotropes, [5][6][7] boron nitride allotropes, 8,9 phosphorene, [10][11][12] transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), 13,14 MXenes, 15,16 etc. Recently, a new family of 2D transition metal boride monolayers (MBenes) has been successfully synthesized by topochemical deintercalation of the A layer from the MAB phases (where M refers to a transition metal, A stands for group IIIA or IVA element, and B is boron) in NaOH or HCl solution.…”

Unveiling the recent advances in micro-electrode materials and configurations for sodium-ion micro-batteries

“…Additionally, the capacity of mBs will decrease signicantly during miniaturization, necessitating new structural and material designs. [26][27][28] The amount of energy and capacity that a micro-battery can hold typically relies on the active materials used in a small area. [29][30][31] In order to tackle these issues, different mB systems have been suggested in the last ten years, including ultrathin microelectrode (mEs) for high volumetric specic capacity and slightly thicker mEs for high areal specic capacity.…”