2D Anodes for Advanced Sodium Ion Batteries
October 26, 2016 | KAUSTEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The mechanism of sodium ion storage in an important two-dimensional material could be a simpler and less toxic route to cheaper batteries, a team of KAUST researchers discovered.
Lithium ion batteries are the current standard power source for most portable electronic products. When this type of battery is charging, positively-charged lithium ions move from one electrode, the cathode, through an electrolyte to another electrode, which is called the anode. The electrodes are typically porous materials into which the ions become embedded through a process known as intercalation. When the battery is connected to a device, the ions perform the same process in reverse.
However, lithium is neither cheap nor abundant, so scientists are developing sodium ion batteries as a cost-effective alternative for rechargeable sources of power.
In both cases, the choice of electrode material is crucial: it has a significant influence on a battery’s energy capacity and its overall lifetime. However, materials that are good electrodes in lithium ion batteries may not be optimal for sodium ion batteries, so there is a need to identify and optimize new materials.
“Two-dimensional materials are potentially attractive anodes for sodium ion batteries due to their large surface area and ability to minimize volume changes during battery operation,” said Professor Husam Alshareef from the Material Science and Engineering Program at KAUST. “However, the sodium ion storage mechanism in this emerging class of anodes is not fully understood.”
Schematic illustration of the structure at the beginning (left) and the end (right) of the evolution during the sodiation process
Schematic illustration of the structure at the beginning (left) and the end (right) of the evolution during the sodiation process. (© Wiley)
Alshareef and colleagues developed a process for two-dimensional anodes for sodium ion batteries made from tin selenide (Advanced Energy Materials, "SnSe2 2D anodes for advanced sodium ion batteries"). They used a combination of experimental and computational studies to unlock the mechanism by which they store sodium ions.
Tin selenide has been synthesized before, but the production process involves complex chemical reactions performed at high temperatures that can require toxic materials.
Alshareef’s team tried a simpler hydrothermal method that uses a solution of sodium hydrogen selenide as a safe and stable source of selenium. They mixed this with tin and selenium and heated it in an oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 24 hours to produce nanosheets.
In-situ spectral studies during battery operation showed that tin selenide stores sodium ions by a two-step process involving both conversion and alloying reactions. This dual mechanism explains the high capacity the team could achieve using SnSe2 anodes.
“The new synthesis process resulted in the highest reported energy density of any transition metal selenide—515 milliampere-hours per gram after 500 charge–discharge cycles,” said Fan Zhang, a KAUST Ph.D. student and the lead author of the research paper.
Suggested Items
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of a New Era for Newccess Industrial; The Construction of the MINGXIN Building
04/12/2024 | Newccess IndustrialOn a clear and sunny day in March, the groundbreaking ceremony for the MINGXIN Building took place in Shenzhen, China. This moment marked the official commencement of construction for a project that will reshape the semiconductor materials industry.
The Need for a Holistic Global Sustainability Standard
04/10/2024 | Michael Ford, Aegis SoftwareNo one can deny that the resources of our fragile planet are finite. The environment seems like a third party, subject to constant degradation. We’re acutely aware of the effects of pollution on our climate, and despite our “throw-away” culture, recycling and recovery of materials has remained relatively expensive, even as we use more energy just to survive.
iNEMI Publishes Four Roadmap Topics
04/04/2024 | iNEMIThe International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announces the availability of the first roadmap topics in the new iNEMI Roadmap format. Printed circuit boards, sustainable electronics, smart manufacturing, and mmWave materials and test are now available online.
Insulectro’s 'Storekeepers' Extend Their Welcome to Technology Village at IPC APEX EXPO
04/03/2024 | InsulectroInsulectro, the largest distributor of materials for use in the manufacture of PCBs and printed electronics, welcomes attendees to its TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE during this year’s IPC APEX EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 9-11, 2024.
Checking In With ICAPE Group
04/03/2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007ICAPE Group’s field application engineer Erik Pederson drills down on sustainability, supply chain resiliency, and what value engineering really looks like in this exclusive interview. Founded in 1999, European-based ICAPE Group provides 21 million printed circuit boards and over six million technical parts to manufacturers every month. With 30 PCB manufacturing partners globally and 50 partners providing a wide array of technical parts, ICAPE Group has operations in China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, South Africa, Europe, Mexico, and the United States. The company also focuses on the value proposition for its customers.