Assembly and electrochemical testing of renewable carbon-based anodes in SIBs: A practical guide
Darío Alvira, Daniel Antorán, Joan J. Manyà
Abstract
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as a promising candidate to replace lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in large-scale energy storage applications. Abundant sodium resources and similar working principles make this technology attractive to be implemented in the near future. However, the development of high-performance carbon anodes is a focal point to the upcoming success of SIBs in terms of power density, cycling stability, and lifespan. Fundamental knowledge in electrochemical and physicochemical techniques is required to properly evaluate the anode performance and move it in the right direction. This review aims at providing a comprehensive guideline to help researchers from different backgrounds (e.g., nanomaterials and thermochemistry) to delve into this topic. The main components, lab configurations, procedures, and working principles of SIBs are summarized. Moreover, a detailed description of the most used electrochemical and physicochemical techniques to characterize electrochemically active materials is provided.