Visualizing the growth process of sodium microstructures in sodium batteries by in-situ 23 Na MRI and NMR spectroscopy
The growth of sodium dendrites and the associated solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is a critical and fundamental issue influencing the safety and cycling lifespan of sodium batteries. In this work, we use in-situ Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniq...
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Published in | Nature nanotechnology Vol. 15; no. 10; p. 883 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
01.10.2020
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The growth of sodium dendrites and the associated solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is a critical and fundamental issue influencing the safety and cycling lifespan of sodium batteries. In this work, we use in-situ
Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, along with an innovative analytical approach, to provide space-resolved and quantitative insights into the formation and evolution of sodium metal microstructures (SMSs; that is, dendritic and mossy Na metal) during the deposition and stripping processes. Our results reveal that the growing SMSs give rise to a linear increase in the overpotential until a transition voltage of 0.15 V is reached, at which point violent electrochemical decomposition of the electrolyte is triggered, leading to the formation of mossy-type SMSs and rapid battery failure. In addition, we determined the existence of NaH in the SEI on sodium metal with ex-situ NMR results. The poor electronic conductivity of NaH is beneficial for the growth of a stable SEI on sodium metal. |
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ISSN: | 1748-3395 |