Pathways to High-Energy and Long-Life Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are promising alternative to existing lithium-ion batteries due to the ever-increasing energy demand and the earth abundance of sodium compared to lithium. However, the cost and cell energy density of reported sodium-ion cells remain insufficient to compete with LiFePO₄ system. In this talk, I will introduce the development of advanced high-capacity phosphorus anode^1,2 and layered oxide cathodes^3-5 at Argonne National Laboratory, aiming to develop advanced sodium-ion batteries with high cell energy density of > 200 Wh/kg. Strategies to alleviate the volume change of red phosphorus anode will be introduced. Doping to enable high-voltage operation of layered oxide cathodes will be discussed. I will also discuss the underlying mechanism behind the structural design using multiscale in situ synchrotron X-ray and microscopy characterization. Specifically, understanding of solid-state synthesis of layered oxide cathodes via in situ synchrotron X-ray probes will be introduced, which can provide valuable principles from predictive design to predictive synthesis.

Reference:
1. Xu, G. L. et al., Nanostructured Black Phosphorus/Ketjenblack-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Composite as High Performance Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries. Nano Lett. 2016, 16, 3955-3965.
2. Liu, X. et al., A Stress/interface-compatible Red Phosphorus Anode for High-energy and Durable Sodium-ion Batteries. Acs Energy Lett. 2021, 6, 547-556.
3. Xu, G. L. et al., Insights into the Structural Effects of Layered Cathode Materials for High Voltage Sodium-ion Batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 2017, 10, 1677-1693.
4. Xu, G. L. et al., Native Lattice Strain induced Structural Earthquake in Sodium Layered Oxide Cathodes. Nature Commun. 2022, 13, 436.
5. Zuo, W. et al., Microstrain screening towards defect-less layered transition metal oxide cathodes. Nature Nanotechnol. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-024-01734-x.