High-Energy Aqueous Sodium-Ion Batteries Using Water-in-Salt Electrolytes and 3D Structured Electrodes

Aqueous sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gradually being recognized as viable solutions for large-scale energy storage because of their inherent safety as well as low cost. However, despite recent advancements in water-in-salt electrolyte technologies, the challenge of identifying anode materials with sufficient specific capacity persists, complicating the wider adoption of these batteries. This study introduces an innovative and straightforward approach for synthesizing vanadium oxide laser-scribed graphene (VO-LSG) composites, which function as effective anode materials in aqueous sodium-ion batteries. By combining a rapid laser-scribing technique with precise thermal control, the method not only allows for changing the morphology of the vanadium oxide, but also tuning its oxidation state. This is achieved while embedding these electrochemically active particles within a highly conductive graphene scaffold. When paired with a Prussian blue-based cathode (Na_1.88Mn[Fe(CN)₆]_0.97) in a concentrated NaClO₄-based aqueous electrolyte, the battery's charge storage mechanism is found to be largely surface-controlled, leading to exceptional rate performance. The full cell demonstrates specific capacities of 128 mA h/g@0.05 A/g and 65.6 mA h/g@1 A/g, with an energy density of 47.7 W h/kg, outperforming many existing aqueous sodium-ion batteries. This strategy offers a promising path forward for integrating efficient, eco-friendly, and low-cost anode materials into large energy storage devices and systems.