The development of large scale energy storage systems (ESSs) aimed at application with renewable electricity sources and in smart grids is expected to address energy shortage and environmental issues. Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) exhibit remarkable potential for satisfying the raw material supply and economic requirements of large scale ESSs because of the high richness and accessibility of sodium reserves. High stability of electrodes during cycling means long service life for energy storage, which is important for large scale ESSs to reduce the cost s generated by exchange or maintenance processes. Using low cost and abundant elements in cathodes with long cycling stability is preferable for lowering expenses on cathodes because it is vital for large scale ESSs to cut costs resulting from manufacture, exchange, and maintenance operations.
Organic electroactive compounds hold great potential to act as cathode materials for SIBs because of their environmental friendliness, sustainabilit
The investigation of novel growth mechanisms for electrodes and the understanding of their in situ energy storage mechanisms remains major challenges in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Herein, a novel mechanism for the growth of high-purity diversified Li3VO4 nanostructures (including hollow nanospheres, uniform nanoflowers, dispersed hollow nanocubes, and ultrafine nanowires) has been developed via a microwave irradiation strategy. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and in situ transmission electron microscope observations are applied to gain deep insight into the intermediate Li3+xVO4 and Li3+yVO4 phases during the lithiation/delithiation mechanism. The first-principle calculations show that lithium ions migrate into the nanosphere wall rapidly along the (100) plane. Furthermore, the Li3VO4 hollow nanospheres deliver an outstanding reversible capacity (299.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles) and excellent cycling stability (a capacity retention of 99.0% after 500 cycles) at 200 mA g