A Low-Temperature Sodium-Ion Full Battery: Superb Kinetics and Cycling Stability

The increasingly stringent requirement in large-scale energy storage necessitates the development of high-performance sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) that can operate under low-temperature (LT) environment. Although SIBs can achieve good cycling stability and rate performance at room temperature, the sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics at low temperature remains a great challenge for SIBs. Here, a superior LT SIB composed of 3D porous Na3V2(PO4)(3)/C (NVP/C-F) and NaTi2(PO4)(3)/C foams (NTP/C-F) is developed. First-principles calculations reveal that the intrinsic Na+ diffusivity in NASICON-type NVP and NTP is extremely high (maximum 3.84 x 10(-5) for NVP and 2.94 x 10(-9) cm(2) s(-1) for NTP) at -20 degrees C. In addition, the designed 3D interconnected porous foam structures demonstrate excellent electrolyte absorption ability and Na+ transport performance at low temperature. As a result, under -20 degrees C, the NVP/C-F and NTP/C-F electrodes (half-cell configuration) can attain reversible capacities close to their theoretical values, and are able to be charged and discharged rapidly (20 C) for 1000 cycles. Based on these features, the designed NTP/C-F||NVP/C-F full cell also displays superb LT kinetics and cycling stability, making a great stride forward in the development of LT SIBs.

Automated summary

The development of high-performance sodium-ion batteries that can operate in low-temperature environments is essential for large-scale energy storage. The designed 3D porous foam structures exhibit excellent electrolyte absorption and Na+ transport performance at -20 degrees C, leading to superior cycling stability and fast charging/discharging capabilities.