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Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Characterization of Electrode Materials for Lithium Ion and Sodium Ion Batteries Using Synchrotron Radiation Techniques
Published on: November 11, 2013
In Operando Mechanism Analysis on Nanocrystalline Silicon Anode Material for Reversible and Ultrafast Sodium Storage
Lei Zhang1, Xianluo Hu2, Chaoji Chen2
1Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia.
Abstract:
The electrochemical mechanism of nanocrystalline silicon anode in sodium ion batteries is first studied via in operando Raman and in operando X-ray diffraction. An irreversible structural conversion from crystalline silicon to amorphous silicon takes place during the initial cycles, leading to ultrafast reversible sodium insertion in the newly generated amorphous silicon. Furthermore, an optimized silicon/carbon composite has been developed to further improve its electrochemical performance.

