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Weakly Solvating Few-Layer-Carbon Interface toward High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Cyclability Hard Carbon
Siwei Zhao1, Fuqiang Huang1,2
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
ACS Nano
|January 4, 2024
Summary
Recycling asphalt waste creates a modified carbon anode for sodium ion batteries, significantly improving initial Coulombic efficiency and cyclability by controlling solid electrolyte interface growth.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) face challenges with carbonaceous anodes, including low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cyclability, primarily due to excessive solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation.
- Weakly solvating electrolytes (WSEs) have been explored to regulate SEI growth by altering cation solvation, but often overlook interfacial effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the WSE concept to the electrode/electrolyte interface for enhanced SEI control in SIBs.
- To develop a cost-effective method for modifying carbon anodes using recycled materials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a weakly solvating interface on hard carbon using asphalt-derived sp² carbon.
- Characterization of the interface's adsorption energy and solvation sheath composition.
- Electrochemical testing of the modified anode in sodium-ion battery configurations.
Main Results:
- The modified anode exhibited lower adsorption energy for solvent molecules (-0.89 eV) compared to pristine carbon (-1.08 eV).
- Anion coordination within the solvation sheath increased, facilitating a thin, inorganic-rich SEI layer.
- Achieved a high ICE of 97.9%, capacity of 335.6 mA h g⁻¹ at 1 C, and 89.5% capacity retention over 1000 cycles.
- Demonstrated applicability in both ether- and ester-based electrolytes.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial SEI regulation using recycled carbon materials offers a promising strategy for improving SIB performance.
- The developed method provides a cost-effective approach for enhancing carbonaceous anodes in sodium-ion batteries.
- This interfacial design is versatile and applicable across different electrolyte systems.
