Recent Advances in Carbon Anodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have gained tremendous attention for large-scale energy storage applications due to the natural abundance, low cost, and even geographic distribution of sodium resources as well as a similar working mechanism to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). One of the critical bottlenecks, however, is the design of high-performance and low-cost anode materials. Graphite anode that has dominated the market share of LIBs does not properly intercalate sodium ions. However, other carbonaceous materials are still considered as one of the most promising anode materials for SIBs in virtue of their high electronic conductivity, abundant active sites, hierarchical porosity, and excellent mechanical stability. In this review, we have tried to summarize the latest progresses made on the development of carbon-based negative electrodes (including hard carbons, soft carbons, and synthetic carbon allotropes) for SIBs. We also have provided a comprehensive understanding of their physical properties, the sodium ions storage mechanisms, and the improvement measures to cope with the current challenges. In addition, we have proposed future research directions for SIBs that will provide important insights into further development of carbon-based materials for SIBs.

Plasma Enhanced Lithium Coupled with Cobalt Fibers Arrays for Advanced Energy Storage

“…As the fast development of electric transportation and grid energy storage, advanced batteries with high energy, long life, and good safety are highly desirable and meanwhile play important roles in realizing "emission peak and carbon neutrality". [1][2][3][4] Among all the candidates, Li metal batteries have been proposed to be the most promising ones owing to the high theoretical specific capacity (3860 mA h g −1 ) and the lowest standard electrode potential of Li metal (−3.04 V vs standard hydrogen electrode). [5][6][7] Nevertheless, the commercial application of Li metal anodes is seriously impeded by several issues including large volume effect, unstable electrolyte/electrode interphase, and dendrite problem accompanied by safety issues.…”

Li–B–Cu Anodes with a Stable Three-Dimensional Composite Skeleton for Lithium Metal Batteries

“…Numerous research results have shown that the use of electrolyte additives, , artificial SEI films, , modified separators, , and structured electrodes , can effectively prevent the growth of Li dendrites, but all of these modification methods can only alleviate the Li dendrite problem to a certain extent because of the gradual depletion or decomposition of key components during a longer cycle. According to Chazalviel’s model, there is an inverse relationship between the growth time of dendrites and the current density. , The construction of three-dimensional (3D) skeleton structure electrodes can not only reduce the local current density, guide uniform Li deposition, and inhibit Li dendrite growth, , but their host structures can also effectively limit the volume change of the anodes during cycling, which cannot be achieved by other modification methods . Nonetheless, many 3D skeletons have poor wettability to Li for their Li-free properties, causing difficulty in filling Li in the skeletal structure during cycling and secondary treatment of the material by molten lithium, with electroplating or rolling required.…”

Directional Regulation of Surface Chemistry of Graphene Using Carbon Dots for Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes

“…Carbonaceous materials have become one of the most popular SIB anode materials with practical applications, owing to the high mechanical stability, excellent electronic conductivity, and low cost. 3,4 However, graphite, as a traditional anode of LIBs, cannot be applied directly in the SIB anode due to the unstable intercalation compounds. 4 At present, amorphous carbon materials as anodes of SIBs can achieve better specific capacity compared with that of graphite, and it definitely has space for improvement.…”

“…3,4 However, graphite, as a traditional anode of LIBs, cannot be applied directly in the SIB anode due to the unstable intercalation compounds. 4 At present, amorphous carbon materials as anodes of SIBs can achieve better specific capacity compared with that of graphite, and it definitely has space for improvement. 5,6 Since the capacitive-controlled surface process displays fast electrochemical kinetics for Na storage, the carbon with abundant surface-active sites including functional groups and defects is highly recommended.…”

“…It is crucial to design a relatively low-cost and excellent performance anode material to achieve the industrialization of SIBs. Carbonaceous materials have become one of the most popular SIB anode materials with practical applications, owing to the high mechanical stability, excellent electronic conductivity, and low cost. , However, graphite, as a traditional anode of LIBs, cannot be applied directly in the SIB anode due to the unstable intercalation compounds . At present, amorphous carbon materials as anodes of SIBs can achieve better specific capacity compared with that of graphite, and it definitely has space for improvement. , Since the capacitive-controlled surface process displays fast electrochemical kinetics for Na storage, the carbon with abundant surface-active sites including functional groups and defects is highly recommended …”