Proceedings of MATSUS Spring 2024 Conference (MATSUS24)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsus.2024.231
Publication date: 18th December 2023
Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) are a potential alternative to diversify the energy landscape, beyond Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to their similar storage mechanism and easy technology transfer. Currently, the benchmark anodes for SIBs are hard carbons (HCs), since sodium ions do not intercalate into graphite, the current anode of choice for LIBs. HCs can be produced from a variety of waste precursors that are more sustainable and less geopolitically compromised than natural graphite, mainly concentrated in China.
The electrochemical degradation of SIBs occurs at a higher rate than in LIBs. This can be attributed to the larger electrochemical reactivity of the HC anodes. A deeper operando understanding of the degradation mechanisms in SIBs, coupled with engineering of the materials and electrolyte to ensure that a better and more protective solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is formed, is needed for an accelerated scale up of this technology. In this talk I will show you some of the strategies we have developed for these aims.