Revisiting the Design of Sodiophilic Anodes to Accelerate the Development of High-Performance Sodium Batteries

Sodiophilic anodes are pivotal for the development of high-performance sodium batteries. The sodiophilic character, necessary for a facile intercalation or plating of Na⁺-ions, has not been given due attention and has never been discussed comprehensively. The present review highlights the importance of the sodiophilicity of the anodes and their effect on the performance of sodium batteries. An improved sodiophilicity is essential to achieve these batteries' stable and reversible operation. In addition to that, a stable solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) is directly or indirectly associated with the degree of sodiophilicity of the anode. To achieve the required sodiophilicity, it is necessary to understand the parameters that control the sodiophilicity of anode materials. Thus, the degree of sodiophilicity and the challenges associated with sodium anodes are highlighted and discussed comprehensively in the present review. Moreover, various types of sodiophilic anode materials are compared and discussed to understand the effect of various surfaces on the sodiophilic character. This study leads to the advancement of sodiophilic anode materials for the next-generation sodium batteries. It is believed that this study may pave the path for researchers to design high-performance anode materials for high-energy sodium batteries.