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Hard Carbon as a High-Capacity Anode Material for Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Batteries

AJAS · 2026 Energy and Transport (inferred)

Samuel Ralph · Not Listed

Overview

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to sodium’s abundance and cost-effectiveness. However, SIBs face challenges related to energy density and cycling stability. This study evaluates the performance of hard carbon anodes in half-cell sodium-ion coin batteries, focusing on the effects of different electrode binders and electrolytes. The binders tested were carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and the electrolytes proposed were sodium hexafluorophosphate (NaPF6) and sodium perchlorate (NaCIO4), though only NaPF6 was tested due to solvents for the second electrolyte not arriving on time. It was hypothesized that a CMC/SBR binder with NaPF₆ would yield the highest performance in terms of specific capacity and cycling stability Coin cells were assembled using a sodium metal counter electrode and polypropylene or glass fiber separators. Initial results indicated that PVDF-based cells demonstrated greater capacity retention and higher experimental yield. The P_1 (PDVF) cell used the polypropylene separator and achieved a decent level of capacity, but would quickly degrade in subsequent cycles, such as dropping from specific discharge capacities of 100 mAh/g to around 50 mAh/g within ten cycles, while P_4, a glass fiber cell, maintained a consistent specific discharge capacity of around 60 mAh/g. The hypothesis was unsupported, as PVDF-based cells outperformed CMC/SBR in electrochemical performance and stability, though with greater environmental impact due to required solvents. This research advances understanding of SIB anode development and binder-electrolyte viability for sodium-ion energy storage.

Competition history

  • AJAS 2026 Category not listed

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Source: AAAS Annual Meeting (Confex) / American Junior Academy of Science

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