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Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Characterization of Electrode Materials for Lithium Ion and Sodium Ion Batteries Using Synchrotron Radiation Techniques
Published on: November 11, 2013
A Highly Reversible Room-Temperature Sodium Metal Anode.
Zhi Wei Seh1, Jie Sun1, Yongming Sun1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States.
Sodium metal anodes show promise for next-generation batteries. A novel glyme-based electrolyte enables stable, non-dendritic sodium plating and stripping, improving energy storage reversibility.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Sodium metal is a cost-effective alternative to lithium for energy storage.
- Challenges include poor reversibility and dendritic growth in sodium metal anodes at room temperature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable electrolyte for reversible sodium metal anodes.
- To enable nondendritic plating and stripping of sodium at room temperature.
Main Methods:
- Investigated sodium hexafluorophosphate in glyme electrolytes (mono-, di-, tetraglyme).
- Performed long-term plating-stripping cycling tests on sodium metal anodes.
- Analyzed the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition and morphology.
Main Results:
- Achieved high Coulombic efficiencies (99.9%) over 300 cycles at 0.5 mA cm(-2).
- Demonstrated uniform, inorganic SEI formation (Na2O, NaF) preventing solvent penetration.
- Enabled nondendritic sodium metal growth.
Conclusions:
- The glyme-based electrolyte facilitates highly reversible and stable sodium metal anode performance.
- The uniform SEI layer is key to suppressing dendrites and ensuring long-term cyclability.
- This work supports the development of advanced sodium-based batteries.
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