Unveiling the Intrinsic Properties of ‘Single Graphite’ Particles During Reversible Intercalation of Solvated Sodium Ions Through ‘Single-Entity Electrochemistry’ for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Storing intermittent energy available from renewable sources shall reduce the pernicious effects of fossil fuels. Grid-storage technologies like the Lithium ion battery (LIB) has proved its efficiency in terms of energy and power density. Along with its virtues, it also accompanies geo-political issues such as limited distribution of lithium (Li, 17-20 ppm) and other LIB relevant elements such as Co or Ni on earth. Sodium (Na) ion batteries (SIB) are based on abundant Na metal (fourth abundant metal on earth, 2.6%) and other non-critical elements are a potential alternative for LIB that recently gained great attention1. The development of SIB is also fueled by announcements of start-ups like HiNa battery and large enterprises like CATL2 not only in research but also in application.
The main objective of this proposal is to divulge the following scientific puzzles for the improvement of Na-ion battery:
1) To extract the intrinsic thermodynamic and kinetic information of single graphite particles during reversible intercalation of solvated Na-ions.
2) To determine the rate-determining step for SIB which has never been done before as per our knowledge using ‘single-entity electrochemistry’ and hence determine the relationship between capacity and rate data from electrode/electrolyte interactions.