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Sodium-Ion Batteries: From Electrodes, Electrolytes to High-Performance Devices

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 931

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: cathodes; anode-free; metal anode; solid electrolytes

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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
Interests: solid electrolytes; batteries; lithium

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to capture the forefront of research in the rapidly advancing field of sodium-ion batteries. While the technology benefits from abundant sodium resources and potential cost advantages, achieving robust electrochemical performance requires overcoming hurdles in ion transport, structural stability, and interface compatibility. We seek submissions that deepen our understanding across the entire device: from the design and synthesis of high-performance cathodes and anodes, innovations in electrolyte systems (liquid and solid-state), and in-depth investigations into interfacial stability and degradation mechanisms. This collection seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for sharing insights that will accelerate progress towards commercially viable and high-performance sodium-ion battery technologies.

Dr. Huangxu Li
Guest Editor

Dr. Jingqiang Zheng
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • high-capacity cathodes
  • anode-free
  • sodium-metal anode
  • characterization techniques
  • electrolytes
  • structure regulations
  • kinetics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3136 KB  
Article
Synergistic Pre-Oxidation and CVD Engineering for Precise Closed-Pore Construction in Coffee Grounds-Derived Hard Carbon Anodes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries
by Xinjie Sun and Hui Yang
Materials 2026, 19(12), 2495; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19122495 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 140
Abstract
Upcycling biomass waste into value-added battery materials is crucial for sustainable energy storage. Here, we transform coffee grounds into high-performance hard carbon (HC) anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) via a synergistic pre-oxidation and acetylene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) strategy, which effectively reduces open [...] Read more.
Upcycling biomass waste into value-added battery materials is crucial for sustainable energy storage. Here, we transform coffee grounds into high-performance hard carbon (HC) anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) via a synergistic pre-oxidation and acetylene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) strategy, which effectively reduces open pores and promotes structural stabilization. The resulting material exhibits features consistent with a closed-pore architecture. Pre-oxidation incorporates oxygen-containing functional groups that template accessible pores and expand the interlayer spacing during carbonization. Subsequent CVD covers surface pores and contributes to the stabilization of the pore structure. The optimized HC (COF300&1300@C) exhibits a balanced set of structural features, including a low specific surface area (2.1 m2 g−1), expanded interlayer distance (0.391 nm), and a well-regulated pore system with reduced surface area and controlled pore size. As a result, it delivers a reversible capacity of 298 mAh g−1 with an ICE of 70%, and remarkable cycling stability (97% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1C). This study elucidates the synergistic mechanism of pre-oxidation and CVD in reducing open pores and stabilizing the pore architecture, thereby yielding characteristics indicative of closed-pore behavior, and providing a novel and efficient approach for designing high-performance biomass-derived hard carbons for energy storage. Full article
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11 pages, 4268 KB  
Article
Precarbonization Facilitated Closed Pores Formation and Surface Graphitization on Bamboo-Derived Hard Carbon to Improve Sodium Storage Performance
by Gao-Yang Bai, Wen-Jing Sun, Zu-Wei Yin, Ze-Bin Pan, Chuan-Wei Wang, Yao Zhou and Jun-Tao Li
Materials 2026, 19(8), 1538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081538 - 12 Apr 2026
Viewed by 542
Abstract
Hard carbon (HC) was considered as a promising anode candidate for Na-ion batteries, due to its ability of efficient Na-ion storage. Bamboo-derived HC has the advantages of sustainability, environmental benefits and low cost, which are crucial for advancing the commercialization of SIBs technology. [...] Read more.
Hard carbon (HC) was considered as a promising anode candidate for Na-ion batteries, due to its ability of efficient Na-ion storage. Bamboo-derived HC has the advantages of sustainability, environmental benefits and low cost, which are crucial for advancing the commercialization of SIBs technology. Precarbonization has been reported as a method to improve the electrochemical performance of HC anodes derived from various precursors, while the underlying mechanism behind why precarbonization improved the electrochemical performance of bamboo-derived HC has not been studied in detail. Herein, the effect of precarbonization on electrochemical behavior, bulk and surface structure, and surface composition was comprehensively explored. The results revealed that the improved reversible capacity was attributed to the increased closed pores for extra Na-ion storage, increased surface N content and decreased oxygen content for Na-ion absorption/desorption; the improved cycling stability was ascribed to the reduced surface oxygen and C-O content leading to suppressed side reactions, while the improved surface graphitization degree contributed to rate capability enhancement. This work clarified the role of precarbonization in improving the hard carbon anode for Na-ion batteries, which will be helpful to the commercialization of hard carbon materials. Full article
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