Boosting Fast Sodium Storage of a Large‐Scalable Carbon Anode with an Ultralong Cycle Life

Abstract

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are considered to be a promising alternative for large‐scale electricity storage. However, it is urgent to develop new anode materials with superior ultralong cycle life performance at high current rates. Herein, a low‐cost and large‐scalable sulfur‐doped carbon anode material that exhibits the best high‐rate cycle performance and the longest cycle life ever reported for carbon anodes is developed. The material delivers a reversible capacity of 142 mA h g−1 at a current rate up to 10 A g−1. After 10 000 cycles the capacity is remained at 126.5 mA h g−1; 89.1% of the initial value. Density functional theory computations demonstrate that the sulfur‐doped carbon has a strong binding affinity for sodium which promotes sodium storage. Meanwhile, the kinetics analysis identifies the capacitive charge storage as a large contributor to sodium storage, which favors ultrafast storage of sodium ions. These results demonstrate a new way to design carbon‐based SIBs anodes for next‐generation large‐scale electricity storage.

Hierarchical Hollow‐Microsphere Metal–Selenide@Carbon Composites with Rational Surface Engineering for Advanced Sodium Storage

“…Compared to the profiles of P-NiSe 2 in Figure S3 (Supporting Information), it is clear that the capacity contribution at 0.5-1.0 V of NiSe 2 /N-C was higher, revealing the triggering of more in-depth redox reaction with the assistance of NiOC bonds. [66,67] Herein, even at large current densities of 10.0 A g −1 , the target sample NiSe 2 /N-C could still remain a capacity of 374 mAh g −1 after 3000 cycling in Figure 5g. Obviously, the inferior rate capacity of C-NiSe 2 was found, mainly ascribed to the pulverization and sluggish kinetic of electrode materials.…”

Extended “Adsorption–Insertion” Model: A New Insight into the Sodium Storage Mechanism of Hard Carbons

“…[26][27][28] The large interlayer spacing is believed to be favorable for Na ion insertion/extraction, [29,30] and the reversible Na storage capacities of the HCs are in the range of 150-350 mAh g −1 . [37][38][39] Experimentally, the charge/discharge curves of HCs have two potential regions: a sloping region above 0.1 V and a plateau region below 0.1 V. [37][38][39] Experimentally, the charge/discharge curves of HCs have two potential regions: a sloping region above 0.1 V and a plateau region below 0.1 V.…”

Effect of Intrinsic Defects of Carbon Materials on the Sodium Storage Performance

“…Recently, the introduction of external defects on the base surface of carbons by doping with heteroatoms (including B, N, P, S, etc.) has been demonstrated to be a very effective strategy to boost their adsorption capability of Na + , via changing the hybridization orbital type of carbon atoms . Zhu et al fabricated N‐doped carbon nanofibers and demonstrated that the introduction of N can provide more active sites for sodium storage and increase the capacitance contribution .…”

“…Zhu et al fabricated N‐doped carbon nanofibers and demonstrated that the introduction of N can provide more active sites for sodium storage and increase the capacitance contribution . Qian et al proved that the doping of S into carbon can change the charge distribution on the carbon surface, and thus enhance the adsorption interaction of the carbon material with Na + . As external defect, heteroatoms in carbon materials are generally considered to serve as active sites for storing sodium ions.…”