Probing three-dimensional sodiation–desodiation equilibrium in sodium-ion batteries by in situ hard X-ray nanotomography

Abstract

Materials degradation—the main limiting factor for widespread application of alloy anodes in battery systems—was assumed to be worse in sodium alloys than in lithium analogues due to the larger sodium-ion radius. Efforts to relieve this problem are reliant on the understanding of electrochemical and structural degradation. Here we track three-dimensional structural and chemical evolution of tin anodes in sodium-ion batteries with in situ synchrotron hard X-ray nanotomography. We find an unusual (de)sodiation equilibrium during multi-electrochemical cycles. The superior structural reversibility during 10 electrochemical cycles and the significantly different morphological change features from comparable lithium-ion systems suggest untapped potential in sodium-ion batteries. These findings differ from the conventional thought that sodium ions always lead to more severe fractures in the electrode than lithium ions, which could have impact in advancing development of sodium-ion batteries.

Microsized Sn as Advanced Anodes in Glyme‐Based Electrolyte for Na‐Ion Batteries

“…This observation is not surprising considering the huge volume change of Sn during Na-Sn alloy process. [27] The repeating sodiation and de-sodiation results in the disconnection of Sn particles in the electrode, as revealed by the fracturing of the cycled electrodes observed by SEM ( Figure S3). …”

In Operando XRD and TXM Study on the Metastable Structure Change of NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 under Electrochemical Sodium‐Ion Intercalation

“…[18] A series of full-field TXM-XANES images of the inhomogeneous phase distribution for the multiparticle Na 1-δ Ni 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 system was collected. [18] A series of full-field TXM-XANES images of the inhomogeneous phase distribution for the multiparticle Na 1-δ Ni 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 system was collected.…”

Von Lithium‐ zu Natriumionenbatterien: Vorteile, Herausforderungen und Überraschendes

“…Nanotomographiestudien an Zinn haben jedoch gezeigt, dass die Stabilitätmit Natrium trotz allem sogar besser sein kann als mit Lithium. [115] Nicht zuletzt lassen sich innerhalb des Periodensystems Tr ends füre inen Vergleich von Lithium-und Natriumlegierungen feststellen. Betrachtet man die Metalle der 13.…”