Mn‐Rich P′2‐Na0.67[Ni0.1Fe0.1Mn0.8]O2 as High‐Energy‐Density and Long‐Life Cathode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Herein, P′2‐type Na_0.67[Ni_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_0.8]O₂ is introduced as a promising new cathode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) that exhibits remarkable structural stability during repetitive Na⁺ de/intercalation. The O? Ni? O? Mn? O? Fe? O bond in the octahedra of transition‐metal layers is used to suppress the elongation of the Mn? O bond and to improve the electrochemical activity, leading to the highly reversible Na storage mechanism. A high discharge capacity of ≈220 mAh g^?1 (≈605 Wh kg^?1) is delivered at 0.05 C (13 mAg^?1) with a high reversible capacity of ≈140 mAh g^?1 at 3 C and excellent capacity retention of 80% over 200 cycles. This performance is associated with the reversible P′2–OP4 phase transition and small volume change upon charge and discharge (≈3%). The nature of the sodium storage mechanism in a full cell paired with a hard carbon anode reveals an unexpectedly high energy density of ≈542 Wh kg^?1 at 0.2 C and good capacity retention of ≈81% for 500 cycles at 1 C (260 mAg^?1).     

Lithium‐Pretreated Hard Carbon as High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Battery Anodes

Hard carbon (HC) is the state‐of‐the‐art anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, its performance has been plagued by the limited initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and mediocre rate performance. Here, experimental and theoretical studies are combined to demonstrate the application of lithium‐pretreated HC (LPHC) as high‐performance anode materials for SIBs by manipulating the solid electrolyte interphase in tetraglyme (TEGDME)‐based electrolyte. The LPHC in TEGDME can 1) deliver > 92% ICE and ≈220 mAh g^?1 specific capacity, twice of the capacity (≈100 mAh g^?1) in carbonate electrolyte; 2) achieve > 85% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g^?1 current density (4 C rate, 1 C = 250 mA g^?1) with a specific capacity of ≈150 mAh g^?1, ≈15 times of the capacity (10 mAh g^?1) in carbonate. The full cell of Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃‐LPHC in TEGDME demonstrated close to theoretical specific capacity of ≈98 mAh g^?1 based on Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathode, ≈2.5 times of the value (≈40 mAh g^?1) with nontreated HC. This work provides new perception on the anode development for SIBs.     

Defect‐Rich Soft Carbon Porous Nanosheets for Fast and High‐Capacity Sodium‐Ion Storage

Soft carbon has attracted tremendous attention as an anode in rocking‐chair batteries owing to its exceptional properties including low‐cost, tunable interlayer distance, and favorable electronic conductivity. However, it fails to exhibit decent performance for sodium‐ion storage owing to difficulties in the formation of sodium intercalation compounds. Here, microporous soft carbon nanosheets are developed via a microwave induced exfoliation strategy from a conventional soft carbon compound obtained by pyrolysis of 3,4,9,10‐perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride. The micropores and defects at the edges synergistically leads to enhanced kinetics and extra sodium‐ion storage sites, which contribute to the capacity increase from 134 to 232 mAh g^?1 and a superior rate capability of 103 mAh g^?1 at 1000 mA g^?1 for sodium‐ion storage. In addition, the capacitance‐dominated sodium‐ion storage mechanism is identified through the kinetics analysis. The in situ X‐ray diffraction analyses are used to reveal that sodium ions intercalate into graphitic layers for the first time. Furthermore, the as‐prepared nanosheets can also function as an outstanding anode for potassium‐ion storage (reversible capacity of 291 mAh g^?1) and dual‐ion full cell (cell‐level capacity of 61 mAh g^?1 and average working voltage of 4.2 V). These properties represent the potential of soft carbon for achieving high‐energy, high‐rate, and low‐cost energy storage systems.     

One‐Step In Situ Formation of N‐doped Carbon Nanosheet 3D Porous Networks/TiO2 Hybrids with Ultrafast Sodium Storage

In spite of the satisfactory advancement in preparing TiO₂‐based hybrid structures, most methods rely on additional template‐based multistep reactions for engineering the given structure. Herein, a unique self‐template and in situ recrystallization strategy is explored to synthesize uniform flowerlike multicompositional structures of nitrogen‐doped porous carbon nanosheet networks immobilizing TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂∩NPCSs) via a self‐prepared single precursor and subsequent thermal treatment. Depending on the unique coordination ability of 2,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid with metal ions under alkaline conditions to form a flowerlike network, a self‐produced single precursor can be achieved. Careful investigations of the self‐prepared precursor reveal a high practicability of the present synthetic scheme. Because of the novel structural and compositional features, these TiO₂∩NCSN flowers indicate superior sodium storage properties when evaluated as anodes for sodium‐ion batteries. Impressively, the TiO₂∩NCSN flowers deliver high reversible capacities of 152 mAh g^?1 at 2C for 3000 cycles and 114 mAh g^?1 at 10C for 10000 cycles, as well as an ultrahigh rate capability up to 50C with a capacity of 101 mAh g^?1. The facile method could stimulate further capability in precise construction of complex architectures with complicated compositions for different device applications.     

Toward a High‐Performance All‐Plastic Full Battery with a'Single Organic Polymer as Both Cathode and Anode

The design and fabrication of high‐performance all‐plastic batteries is essentially important to achieve future flexible electronics. A major challenge in this field is the lack of stable and reliable soft organic electrodes with satisfactory performance. Here, a novel all‐plastic‐electrode based Li‐ion battery with a single flexible bi‐functional ladderized heterocyclic poly(quinone), (C₆O₂S₂)_n, as both cathode and anode is demonstrated. Benefiting from its unique ladder‐like quinone and dithioether structure, the as‐prepared polymer cathode shows a high energy density of 624 Wh kg^?1 (vs lithium anode) and a stable battery life of 1000 cycles. Moreover, the as‐fabricated symmetric full‐battery delivers a large capacity of 249 mAh g^?1 (at 20 mA g^?1), a good capacity retention of 119 mAh g^?1 after 250 cycles (at 1.0 A g^?1) and a noteworthy energy density up to 276 Wh kg^?1. The superior performance of poly(2,3‐dithiino‐1,4‐benzoquinone)‐based electrode rivals most of the state‐of‐the‐art demonstrations on organic‐based metal‐ion shuttling batteries. The study provides an effective strategy to develop stable bi‐functional electrode materials toward the next‐generation of high performance all‐plastic batteries.     

KTi2(PO4)3 with Large Ion Diffusion Channel for High‐Efficiency Sodium Storage

To accommodate the decreasing lithium resource and ensure continuous development of energy storage industry, sodium‐based batteries are widely studied to inherit the next generation of energy storage devices. In this work, a novel Na super ionic conductor type KTi₂(PO₄)₃/carbon nanocomposite is designed and fabricated as sodium storage electrode materials, which exhibits considerable reversible capacity (104 mAh g^?1 under the rate of 1 C with flat voltage plateaus at ≈2.1 V), high‐rate cycling stability (74.2% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 20 C), and ultrahigh rate capability (76 mAh g^?1 at 100 C) in sodium ion batteries. Besides, the maximum ability for sodium storage is deeply excavated by further investigations about different voltage windows in half and full sodium ion cells. Meanwhile, as cathode material in sodium‐magnesium hybrid batteries, the KTi₂(PO₄)₃/carbon nanocomposite also displays good electrochemical performances (63 mAh g^?1 at the 230th cycle under the voltage window of 1.0–1.9 V). The results demonstrate that the KTi₂(PO₄)₃/carbon nanocomposite is a promising electrode material for sodium ion storage, and lay theoretical foundations for the development of new type of batteries.     

New Binder‐Free Metal Phosphide–Carbon Felt Composite Anodes for Sodium‐Ion Battery

Metal phosphides are promising anode candidates for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high specific capacity and low operating potential but suffer from poor cycling stability caused by huge volume expansion and poor solid‐state ion transfer rate. Herein, a new strategy to grow a new class of mesoporous metal phosphide nanoarrays on carbon felt (CF) as binder‐free anodes for SIBs is reported. The resultant integrated electrodes demonstrate excellent cycling life up to 1000 times (>90% retention rate) and high rate capability of 535 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 4 A g^?1. Detailed characterization reveals that the synergistic effect of unique mesoporous structure for accommodating huge volume expansion during sodiation/desodiation process, ultrasmall primary particle size (≈10 nm) for providing larger electrode/electrolyte contact area and shorter ion diffusion distance, and 3D conductive networks for facilitating the electrochemical reaction, leads to the extraordinary battery performance. Remarkably, a full SIB using the new CoP₄/CF anode and a Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃ cathode delivers an average operating voltage of ≈3.0 V, a reversible capacity of 553 mAh g^?1, and very high energy density of ≈280 Wh kg^?1 for SIBs. A flexible SIB with outstanding mechanical strength based on this binder‐free new anode is also demonstrated.     

Molecular Engineering of Monodisperse SnO2 Nanocrystals Anchored on Doped Graphene with High‐Performance Lithium/Sodium‐Storage Properties in Half/Full Cells

The fabrication of ultrasmall and high‐content SnO₂ nanocrystals anchored on doped graphene can endow SnO₂ with superior electrochemical properties. Herein, an effective strategy, involving molecular engineering of a layer‐by‐layer assembly technique, is proposed to homogeneously anchor SnO₂ nanocrystals on nitrogen/sulfur codoped graphene (NSGS), which serves as an advanced anode material in lithium/sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs). Benefiting from novel design and specific structure, the optimized NSGS for LIBs displays high initial capacity (2123.9 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 A g^?1), long‐term cycling performance (only 0.8% loss after 500 cycles), and good rate capability (477.4 mAh g^?1 at 5 A g^?1). In addition, the optimized NSGS for SIBs also delivers high initial capacity (791.7 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 A g^?1) and high reversible capacity (180.2 mAh g^?1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g^?1). Meanwhile, based on the detailed analysis of phase transition and electrochemical reaction kinetics, the reaction mechanisms of NSGS in LIBs and SIBs as well as the distinction in LIBs/SIBs are clearly articulated. Notably, to further explore the practical application, Li/Na⁺ full cells are also assembled by coupling the optimized NSGS anode with LiCoO₂ and Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C cathodes, respectively.     

Bottom‐Up Confined Synthesis of Nanorod‐in‐Nanotube Structured Sb@N‐C for Durable Lithium and Sodium Storage

Antimony (Sb) has emerged as an attractive anode material for both lithium and sodium ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity of 660 mA h g^?1. In this work, a novel peapod‐like N‐doped carbon hollow nanotube encapsulated Sb nanorod composite, the so‐called nanorod‐in‐nanotube structured Sb@N‐C, via a bottom‐up confinement approach is designed and fabricated. The N‐doped‐carbon coating and thermal‐reduction process is monitored by in situ high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction characterization. Due to its advanced structural merits, such as sufficient N‐doping, 1D conductive carbon coating, and substantial inner void space, the Sb@N‐C demonstrates superior lithium/sodium storage performance. For lithium storage, the Sb@N‐C exhibits a high reversible capacity (650.8 mA h g^?1 at 0.2 A g^?1), excellent long‐term cycling stability (a capacity decay of only 0.022% per cycle for 3000 cycles at 2 A g^?1), and ultrahigh rate capability (343.3 mA h g^?1 at 20 A g^?1). For sodium storage, the Sb@N‐C nanocomposite displays the best long‐term cycle performance among the reported Sb‐based anode materials (a capacity of 345.6 mA h g^?1 after 3000 cycles at 2 A g^?1) and an impressive rate capability of up to 10 A g^?1. The results demonstrate that the Sb@N‐C nanocomposite is a promising anode material for high‐performance lithium/sodium storage.     

Controlled Oxygen Redox for Excellent Power Capability in Layered Sodium‐Based Compounds

A high‐rate of oxygen redox assisted by cobalt in layered sodium‐based compounds is achieved. The rationally designed Na_0.6[Mg_0.2Mn_0.6Co_0.2]O₂ exhibits outstanding electrode performance, delivering a discharge capacity of 214 mAh g^?1 (26 mA g^?1) with capacity retention of 87% after 100 cycles. High rate performance is also achieved at 7C (1.82 A g^?1) with a capacity of 107 mAh g^?1. Surprisingly, the Na_0.6[Mg_0.2Mn_0.6Co_0.2]O₂ compound is able to deliver capacity for 1000 cycles at 5C (at 1.3 A g^?1), retaining 72% of its initial capacity of 108 mAh g^?1. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of the O K‐edge indicates the oxygen‐redox species (O^2?/1?) is active during cycling. First‐principles calculations show that the addition of Co reduces the bandgap energy from ≈2.65 to ≈0.61 eV and that overlapping of the Co 3d and O 2p orbitals facilitates facile electron transfer, enabling the long‐term reversibility of the oxygen redox, even at high rates. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on high‐rate oxygen redox in sodium‐based cathode materials, and it is believed that the findings will open a new pathway for the use of oxygen‐redox‐based materials for sodium‐ion batteries.     

A Novel α‐MoO3/Single‐Walled Carbon Nanohorns Composite as High‐Performance Anode Material for Fast‐Charging Lithium‐Ion Battery

Orthorhombic α‐MoO₃ is a potential anode material for lithium‐ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity of 1100 mAh g^?1 and excellent structural stability. However, its intrinsic poor electronic conductivity and high volume expansion during the charge–discharge process impede it from achieving a high practical capacity. A novel composite of α‐MoO₃ nanobelts and single‐walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) is synthesized by a facile microwave hydrothermal technique and demonstrated as a high‐performance anode material for lithium‐ion batteries. The α‐MoO₃/SWCNH composite displays superior electrochemical properties (654 mAh g^?1 at 1 C), excellent rate capability (275 mAh g^?1 at 5 C), and outstanding cycle life (capacity retention of >99% after 3000 cycles at 1 C) without any cracking of the electrode. The presence of SWCNHs in the composite enhances the electrochemical properties of α‐MoO₃ by acting as a lithium storage material, electronic conductive medium, and buffer against pulverization.     

High Energy Density Sodium‐Ion Battery with Industrially Feasible and Air‐Stable O3‐Type Layered Oxide Cathode

Extensive effort is being made into cathode materials for sodium‐ion battery to address several fatal issues, which restrict their future application in practical sodium‐ion full cell system, such as their unsatisfactory initial Coulombic efficiency, inherent deficiency of cyclable sodium content, and poor industrial feasibility. A novel air‐stable O3‐type Na[Li_0.05Mn_0.50Ni_0.30Cu_0.10Mg_0.05]O₂ is synthesized by a coprecipitation method suitable for mass production followed by high‐temperature annealing. The microscale secondary particle, consisting of numerous primary nanocrystals, can efficiently facilitate sodium‐ion transport due to the short diffusion distance, and this cathode material also has inherent advantages for practical application because of its superior physical properties. It exhibits a reversible capacity of 172 mA h g^?1 at 0.1 C and remarkable capacity retention of 70.4% after 1000 cycles at 20 C. More importantly, it offers good compatibility with pristine hard carbon as anode in the sodium‐ion full cell system, delivering a high energy density of up to 215 W h kg^?1 at 0.1 C and good rate performance. Owing to the high industrial feasibility of the synthesis process, good compatibility with pristine hard carbon anode, and excellent electrochemical performance, it can be considered as a promising active material to promote progress toward sodium‐ion battery commercialization.     

A Versatile Pyramidal Hauerite Anode in Congeniality Diglyme‐Based Electrolytes for Boosting Performance of Li‐ and Na‐Ion Batteries

For the first time, environmentally friendly sulfur‐rich pyramidal MnS₂ synthesized via a single‐step hydrothermal process is used as a high‐performance anode material in Li‐ion and Na‐ion batteries. The superior electrochemical performance of the MnS₂ electrode along with its high compatibility with ether‐based electrolytes are analyzed in both half‐ and full‐cell configurations. The reversible capacities of ≈84 mAh g^?1 and ≈74 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 50 mA g^?1 are retained in the Li‐ion and Na‐ion full‐cells, respectively, over 200 cycles with excellent capacity retentions. Moreover, important findings regarding activation processes in the presence of a new phase transition and protective electrolyte interphase layer are revealed using ab initio density function theory calculation and in situ potentio‐electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The detailed complex redox mechanism of MnS₂ in Li/Na half‐cells is also elucidated by ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.     

A Hollow‐Shell Structured V2O5 Electrode‐Based Symmetric Full Li‐Ion Battery with Highest Capacity

The symmetric batteries with an electrode material possessing dual cathodic and anodic properties are regarded as an ideal battery configuration because of their distinctive advantages over the asymmetric batteries in terms of fabrication process, cost, and safety concerns. However, the development of high‐performance symmetric batteries is highly challenging due to the limited availability of suitable symmetric electrode materials with such properties of highly reversible capacity. Herein, a triple‐hollow‐shell structured V₂O₅ (THS‐V₂O₅) symmetric electrode material with a reversible capacity of >400 mAh g^?1 between 1.5 and 4.0 V and >600 mAh g^?1 between 0.1 and 3.0 V, respectively, when used as the cathode and anode, is reported. The THS‐V₂O₅ electrodes assembled symmetric full lithium‐ion battery (LIB) exhibits a reversible capacity of ≈290 mAh g^?1 between 2 and 4.0 V, the best performed symmetric energy storage systems reported to date. The unique triple‐shell structured electrode makes the symmetric LIB possessing very high initial coulombic efficiency (94.2%), outstanding cycling stability (with 94% capacity retained after 1000 cycles), and excellent rate performance (over 140 mAh g^?1 at 1000 mA g^?1). The demonstrated approach in this work leaps forward the symmetric LIB performance and paves a way to develop high‐performance symmetric battery electrode materials.     

High‐Performance Reversible Aqueous Zn‐Ion Battery Based on Porous MnOx Nanorods Coated by MOF‐Derived N‐Doped Carbon

Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have been emerging as potential large‐scale energy storage devices due to their high energy density, low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, the commonly used cathode materials in ZIBs exhibit poor electrochemical performance, such as significant capacity fading during long‐term cycling and poor performance at high current rates, which significantly hinder the further development of ZIBs. Herein, a new and highly reversible Mn‐based cathode material with porous framework and N‐doping (MnO_x@N‐C) is prepared through a metal–organic framework template strategy. Benefiting from the unique porous structure, conductive carbon network, and the synergetic effect of Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺ in electrolyte, the MnO_x@N‐C shows excellent cycling stability, good rate performance, and high reversibility for aqueous ZIBs. Specifically, it exhibits high capacity of 305 mAh g^?1 after 600 cycles at 500 mA g^?1 and maintains achievable capacity of 100 mAh g^?1 at a quite high rate of 2000 mA g^?1 with long‐term cycling of up to 1600 cycles, which are superior to most reported ZIB cathode materials. Furthermore, insight into the Zn‐storage mechanism in MnO_x@N‐C is systematically studied and discussed via multiple analytical methods. This study opens new opportunities for designing low‐cost and high‐performance rechargeable aqueous ZIBs.     

A Layered–Tunnel Intergrowth Structure for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Oxide Cathode

Delivery of high‐energy density with long cycle life is facing a severe challenge in developing cathode materials for rechargeable sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Here a composite Na_0.6MnO₂ with layered–tunnel structure combining intergrowth morphology of nanoplates and nanorods for SIBs, which is clearly confirmed by micro scanning electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy as well as scanning transmission electron microscopy with atomic resolution is presented. Owing to the integrated advantages of P2 layered structure with high capacity and that of the tunnel structure with excellent cycling stability and superior rate performance, the composite electrode delivers a reversible discharge capacity of 198.2 mAh g^?1 at 0.2C rate, leading to a high‐energy density of 520.4 Wh kg^?1. This intergrowth integration engineering strategy may modulate the physical and chemical properties in oxide cathodes and provide new perspectives on the optimal design of high‐energy density and high‐stable materials for SIBs.     

Rational Construction of Nitrogen‐Doped Hierarchical Dual‐Carbon for Advanced Potassium‐Ion Hybrid Capacitors

Potassium‐ion hybrid capacitors (PIHCs), elaborately integrate the advantages of high output power as well as long lifespan of supercapacitors and the high energy density of batteries, and exhibit great possibilities for the future generations of energy storage devices. The critical next step for future implementation lies in exploring a high‐rate battery‐type anode with an ultra‐stable structure to match the capacitor‐type cathode. Herein, a “dual‐carbon” is constructed, in which a three‐dimensional nitrogen‐doped microporous carbon polyhedron (NMCP) derived from metal‐organic frameworks is tightly wrapped by two‐dimensional reduced graphene oxide (NMCP@rGO). Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the inner NMCP and outer rGO, the NMCP@rGO exhibits a superior K‐ion storage capability with a high reversible capacity of 386 mAh g^?1 at 0.05 A g^?1 and ultra‐long cycle stability with a capacity of 151.4 mAh g^?1 after 6000 cycles at 5.0 A g^?1. As expected, the as‐assembled PIHCs with a working voltage as high as 4.2 V present a high energy/power density (63.6 Wh kg^?1 at 19 091 W kg^?1) and excellent capacity retention of 84.7% after 12 000 cycles. This rational construction of advanced PIHCs with excellent performance opens a new avenue for further application and development.     

Nature of FeSe2/N‐C Anode for High Performance Potassium Ion Hybrid Capacitor

Potassium ion hybrid capacitors have great potential for large‐scale energy devices, because of the high power density and low cost. However, their practical applications are hindered by their low energy density, as well as electrolyte decomposition and collector corrosion at high potential in potassium bis(fluoro‐sulfonyl)imide‐based electrolyte. Therefore, anode materials with high capacity, a suitable voltage platform, and stability become a key factor. Here, N‐doping carbon‐coated FeSe₂ clusters are demonstrated as the anode material for a hybrid capacitor, delivering a reversible capacity of 295 mAh g^?1 at 100 mA g^?1 over 100 cycles and a high rate capability of 158 mAh g^?1 at 2000 mA g^?1 over 2000 cycles. Meanwhile, through density functional theory calculations, in situ X‐ray diffraction, and ex situ transmission electron microscopy, the evolution of FeSe₂ to Fe₃Se₄ for the electrochemical reaction mechanism is successfully revealed. The battery‐supercapacitor hybrid using commercial activated carbon as the cathode and FeSe₂/N‐C as the anode is obtained. It delivers a high energy density of 230 Wh kg^?1 and a power density of 920 W kg^?1 (the energy density and power density are calculated based on the total mass of active materials in the anode and cathode).     

Next‐Generation Additive Manufacturing of Complete Standalone Sodium‐Ion Energy Storage Architectures

The first entirely AM/3D‐printed sodium‐ion (full‐cell) battery is reported herein, presenting a paradigm shift in the design and prototyping of energy‐storage architectures. AM/3D‐printing compatible composite materials are developed for the first time, integrating the active materials NaMnO₂ and TiO₂ within a porous supporting material, before being AM/3D‐printed into a proof‐of‐concept model based upon the basic geometry of commercially existing AA battery designs. The freestanding and completely AM/3D‐fabricated device demonstrates a respectable performance of 84.3 mAh g^?1 with a current density of 8.43 mA g^?1; note that the structure is typically comprised of 80% thermoplastic, but yet, still works and functions as an energy‐storage platform. The AM/3D‐fabricated device is critically benchmarked against a battery developed using the same active materials, but fabricated via a traditional manufacturing method utilizing an ink‐based/doctor‐bladed methodology, which is found to exhibit a specific capacity of 98.9 mAh m^?2 (116.35 mAh g^?1). The fabrication of fully AM/3D‐printed energy‐storage architectures compares favorably with traditional approaches, with the former providing a new direction in battery manufacturing. This work represents a paradigm shift in the technological and design considerations in battery and energy‐storage architectures.     

Graphene Wrapped FeSe2 Nano‐Microspheres with High Pseudocapacitive Contribution for Enhanced Na‐Ion Storage

Pseudocapacitance is a Faradaic process that involves surface or near surface redox reactions. Increasing the pseudocapacitive contribution is one of the most effective means to improve the rate performance of electrode materials. In this study, graphene oxide is used as a template to in situ synthesize burr globule‐like FeSe₂/graphene hybrid (B‐FeSe₂/G) using a facile one‐step hydrothermal method. Structural characterization demonstrates that graphene layers not only wrap the surfaces of FeSe₂ particles, but also stretch into the interior of these particles, as a result of which the unique nano‐microsphere structure is successfully established. When serving as anode material for Na‐ion batteries, B‐FeSe₂/G hybrid displays high electrochemical performance in the voltage range of 0.5–2.9 V. The B‐FeSe₂/G hybrid has high reversible capacity of 521.6 mAh·g^?1 at 1.0 A g^?1. Meanwhile, after 400 cycles, high discharge capacity of 496.3 mAh g^?1 is obtained at a rate of 2.5 A g^?1, with a high columbic efficiency of 96.6% and less than 1.0% loss of discharge capacity. Even at the ultrahigh rate of 10 A g^?1, a specific capacity of 316.8 mAh g^?1 can be achieved. Kinetic analyses reveal that the excellent performance of the B‐FeSe₂/G hybrid is largely attributed to the high pseudocapacitive contribution induced by the special nano‐micro structure.