Roadmap for Next-Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage Technologies: Secondary Batteries and Supercapacitors.

The transition from fossil fuels to environmentally friendly renewable energy sources is crucial for achieving global initiatives such as the carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The use of secondary batteries and supercapacitors based on electrochemical energy storage principles provides high energy density, conversion efficiency, and rapid response times, offering essential solutions for stabilizing and ensuring the reliability of energy supply from renewable sources despite their intermittency. In recent years, increased demands for higher energy density, improved rate performance, longer cycle life, enhanced safety, and cost-effectiveness have driven researchers to delve deeper into electrode materials, electrolytes, and storage mechanisms in secondary batteries.

Tailored Heterogeneous Interphase Layer Promotes Low-Temperature Desolvation Toward Durable Sodium Metal Batteries.

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) represent a promising next-generation energy storage technology due to their low cost and high energy density. However, SMBs face significant challenges, including interfacial instability and the growth of sodium dendrites on the metal anode, particularly at low temperatures (LTs). Poor ion desolvation at LTs further exacerbates these issues, severely compromising battery performance.

Preferable single-atom catalysts enabled by natural language processing for high energy density Na-S batteries.

Employing appropriate single-atom (SA) catalysts in room-temperature sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries is propitious to promote the performance, whereas a universal designing strategy for the highly-efficient single-atom catalysts is absent. In this work, we adopt natural language processing techniques to screen the potential single-atom catalysts, then a binary descriptor is constructed to optimize the catalyst candidates. Atomically dispersed cobalt anchored to both nitrogen and sulfur atoms (SA Co-N/S) is selected as an ideal catalyst to significantly facilitate sulfur reduction reaction.

Dual-Salt Low-Concentration Electrolyte for Low-Temperature Sodium Metal Batteries.

The high theoretical capacity of 1165 mAh g and lower cost position sodium metal batteries (SMBs) as a promising alternative to lithium-based batteries. However, their application at ultralow temperatures is limited by conventional commercial electrolytes, which present challenges such as an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and suboptimal ionic kinetic performance. Building on the significant impact of low concentration and the pivotal role of SEI films in enhancing the cycle stability of batteries, we develop a low-concentration and dual-salt carbonate electrolyte.

Strengthening Transition Metal-Oxygen Interaction in Layered Oxide Cathodes for Stable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

P2-type layered oxides, such as NaNiMnO, represent a promising class of cathode materials for Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical energy density. However, their cycling stability is often compromised by severe phase transitions and irreversible lattice oxygen redox reactions at high voltages. In this work, we develop a Zn and Al codoping approach to design a NaNiZnMnAlO (ZA-NNMO) cathode for stable SIBs.

Initially anode-free sodium metal battery enabled by strain-engineered single-crystal aluminum substrate with (100)-preferred orientation.

Constructing high cycling stability and rate performance under limited or ideally zero sodium excess, namely initially anode-free design, which can obtain the ultimate energy density of sodium metal batteries, is highly desired yet remains challenging. Here, highly ordered and regularly arranged Al(100) single crystal current collector is constructed based on the grain boundary migration theory through a simple high-temperature calcination method, which eliminates the diffusion resistance of Na migration at grain boundaries, reduces the nucleation overpotential and interface diffusion energy barrier, increases the Na transfer rate, and exhibits uniform reversible sodium deposition capability. Profiting from the modified current collector surface, the Al(100) electrode can be cycled stably for 500 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.

Solid State Self-Assembly of Flaky NaV(PO)@Carbon into Spherical Superstructures: Large Production and Boosted Low-Temperature Na Storage Capability.

The application of secondary batteries at wide temperature ranges, particularly at low temperatures (LT), becomes a hotspot in the energy storage field. NaV(PO) (NVP) emerges as a prospective cathodic material for LT sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its robust structure and fast Na-ion transportation. However, conventional NVP electrode materials are hindered by inferior intrinsic electronic conductivity and interfacial deterioration at LT, leading to unsatisfactory rate capability and service life.

ZIF-8 Functionalized Separator Regulating Na-Ion Flux and Enabling High-Performance Sodium-Metal Batteries.

The practical application of sodium metal batteries faces significant challenges, such as unpredictable Na dendrite growth and the instability of solid-electrolyte interphase. Herein, a novel separator composed of glass fiber (GF) impregnated with a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) layer, referred to as GF@ZIF-8 is introduced. This optimized separator exhibits enhanced anti-puncture strength, a high Na transference number, and fast Na-ion conductivity.

Composite Polymer Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Sodium Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, primarily due to their plentiful raw materials and cost-effectiveness. However, the use of traditional organic liquid electrolytes in sodium battery applications presents significant safety risks, prompting the investigation of solid electrolytes as a more viable solution. Despite their advantages, single solid electrolytes encounter challenges, including low conductivity of sodium ions at room temperature and incompatibility with electrode materials.

Simultaneous Regulating the Surface, Interface, and Bulk via Phosphating Modification for High-Performance Li-Rich Layered Oxides Cathodes.

Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides (LRMOs) are regarded as the leading cathode materials to overcome the bottleneck of higher energy density. Nevertheless, they encounter significant challenges, including voltage decay, poor cycle stability, and inferior rate performance, primarily due to irreversible oxygen release, transition metal dissolution, and sluggish transport kinetics. Moreover, traditionally single modification strategies do not adequately address these issues.

Multifunctional High-Entropy Alloy Nanolayer Toward Long-Life Anode-Free Sodium Metal Battery.

Anode-free sodium metal batteries (AFSMBs) hold great promise due to high energy density and low cost. Unfortunately, their practical applications are hindered by poor cycling stability, which is attributed to Na dendrite growth and inferior Na plating/stripping reversibility on conventional sodiophobic current collectors. Here, a thin high-entropy alloy (HEA, NbMoTaWV) interfacial layer composed of densely packed nanoplates is constructed on commercial aluminum foil (NbMoTaWV@Al) for AFSMBs.

Sulfide electrolytes for all-solid-state sodium batteries: fundamentals and modification strategies.

Sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSSEs) have garnered overwhelming attention as promising candidates for high-energy-density all-solid-state sodium batteries (ASSSBs) due to their high room-temperature ionic conductivity and excellent mechanical properties. However, the poor chemical/electrochemical stability, narrow electrochemical windows, and limited adaptability to cathodes/anodes of SSSEs hinder the performance and application of SSSEs in ASSSBs. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the preparation methods, fundamental properties, modification techniques, and compatibility strategies between SSSEs and electrodes is crucial for the advancement of SSSE-based ASSSBs.

NaBi/NaVO Hybrid Interfacial Layer Enables Stable and Dendrite-Free Sodium Anodes.

The challenges of sodium metal anodes, including formation of an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and uncontrolled growth of sodium dendrites during charge-discharge cycles, impact the stability and safety of sodium metal batteries. Motivated by the promising commercialization potential of sodium metal batteries, it becomes imperative to systematically explore innovative protective interlayers specifically tailored for sodium metal anodes. In this work, a NaBi/NaVO hybrid and porous interfacial layer on sodium anode is successfully fabricated via pretreating sodium with bismuth vanadate.

Inhibiting the Jahn-Teller Effect of Manganese Hexacyanoferrate via Ni and Cu Codoping for Advanced Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Manganese (Mn)-based Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) are of great interest as a prospective cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high redox potential, easy synthesis, and low cost. However, the Jahn-Teller effect and low electrical conductivity of Mn-based PBA cause poor structure stability and unsatisfactory performance during the cycling. Herein, a novel nickel- and copper-codoped KMn[Fe(CN)] cathode is developed via a simple coprecipitation strategy.

Unraveling the Nucleation and Growth Mechanism of Potassium Metal on 3D Skeletons for Dendrite-Free Potassium Metal Batteries.

Designing three-dimensional (3D) porous carbonaceous skeletons for K metal is one of the most promising strategies to inhibit dendrite growth and enhance the cycle life of potassium metal batteries. However, the nucleation and growth mechanism of K metal on 3D skeletons remains ambiguous, and the rational design of suitable K hosts still presents a significant challenge. In this study, the relationships between the binding energy of skeletons toward K and the nucleation and growth of K are systematically studied.

Tailoring Na Solvation Environment and Electrode-Electrolyte Interphases with Sn(OTf) Additive in Non-flammable Phosphate Electrolytes towards Safe and Efficient Na-S Batteries.

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries are promising for low-cost and large-scale energy storage applications. However, these batteries are plagued by safety concerns due to the highly flammable nature of conventional electrolytes. Although non-flammable electrolytes eliminate the risk of fire, they often result in compromised battery performance due to poor compatibility with sodium metal anode and sulfur cathode.

Promising Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries from Lab to Application.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are seen as an emerging force for future large-scale energy storage due to their cost-effective nature and high safety. Compared with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the energy density of SIBs is insufficient at present. Thus, the development of high-energy SIBs for realizing large-scale energy storage is extremely vital.

High-Voltage Potassium Hexacyanoferrate Cathode via High-Entropy and Potassium Incorporation for Stable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) used as sodium ion battery (SIB) cathodes are usually the focus of attention due to their three-dimensional open frame and high theoretical capacity. Nonetheless, the disadvantages of a low working voltage and inferior structural stability of PBAs prevent their further applications. Herein, we propose constructing the K(MnFeCoNiCu)[Fe(CN)] (HE-K-PBA) cathode by high-entropy and potassium incorporation strategy to simultaneously realize high working voltage and cycling stability.

Inorganic All-Solid-State Sodium Batteries: Electrolyte Designing and Interface Engineering.

Inorganic all-solid-state sodium batteries (IASSSBs) are emerged as promising candidates to replace commercial lithium-ion batteries in large-scale energy storage systems due to their potential advantages, such as abundant raw materials, robust safety, low price, high-energy density, favorable reliability and stability. Inorganic sodium solid electrolytes (ISSEs) are an indispensable component of IASSSBs, gaining significant attention. Herein, this review begins by discussing the fundamentals of ISSEs, including their ionic conductivity, mechanical property, chemical and electrochemical stabilities.

Controllable fabrication of vanadium selenium nanosheets for a high-performance Na-ion battery anode.

Vanadium selenium has gained attention as a potential anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to the tunable crystal structure, effective channels for Na diffusion, and high theoretical specific capacity. However, the pursuit of vanadium selenium remains an enormous challenge. Herein, we demonstrated that VSe nanosheets could be fabricated facilely and efficiently a one-pot synthesis method with the careful selection of the solvent/surfactant.

Recent Advancements of Graphene-Based Materials for Zinc-Based Batteries: Beyond Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Graphene-based materials (GBMs) possess a unique set of properties including tunable interlayer channels, high specific surface area, and good electrical conductivity characteristics, making it a promising material of choice for making electrode in rechargeable batteries. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) currently dominate the commercial rechargeable battery market, but their further development has been hampered by limited lithium resources, high lithium costs, and organic electrolyte safety concerns. From the performance, safety, and cost aspects, zinc-based rechargeable batteries have become a promising alternative of rechargeable batteries.

Oxygen Defect Engineering toward Zero-Strain VO@Porous Reticular Carbon for Ultrastable Potassium Storage.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage devices due to their high energy density and low cost. However, the large potassium-ion radius leads to its sluggish diffusion kinetics during intercalation into the lattice of the electrode material, resulting in electrode pulverization and poor cycle stability. Herein, vanadium trioxide anodes with different oxygen vacancy concentrations (VO, VO, and VO determined by the neutron diffraction) are developed for KIBs.

Robust Artificial Interlayer with High Ionic Conductivity and Mechanical Strength toward Long-Life Na-Metal Batteries.

Sodium metal, benefiting from its high theoretical capacity and natural abundance, is regarded as a promising anode for sodium-metal batteries (SMBs). Unfortunately, the uncontrollable sodium dendrites formation caused from the sluggish ion-transport kinetics and fragile solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) interlayer induces a low Coulombic efficiency and poor cycling stability. Constructing an artificial SEI interlayer with high ionic conductivity, stability, and mechanical toughness is an effective strategy for Na-metal anode, yet it still presents major challenge for high current density and long cycling life.

Enhancing Interfacial Strength and Wettability for Wide-Temperature Sodium Metal Batteries.

Development of high-performance sodium metal batteries (SMBs) with a wide operating temperature range (from -40 to 55 °C) is highly challenging. Herein, an artificial hybrid interlayer composed of sodium phosphide (Na P) and metal vanadium (V) is constructed for wide-temperature-range SMBs via vanadium phosphide pretreatment. As evidenced by simulation, the VP-Na interlayer can regulate redistribution of Na flux, which is beneficial for homogeneous Na deposition.

Construction of Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Layer for Stable Na Metal Anode Operated under Wide Temperatures.

Sodium metal battery is supposed to be a propitious technology for high-energy storage application owing to the advantages of natural abundance and low cost. Unfortunately, the uncontrollable dendrite growth critically hampers its practical implementation. Herein, an inorganic/organic hybrid layer of NaF/CF/CC on the surface of Na foil (IOHL-Na) is designed and synthesized through the in situ reaction of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and metallic sodium.