Step-by-step desolvation enables high-rate and ultra-stable sodium storage in hard carbon anodes.

Hard carbon is regarded as the most promising anode material for sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, owing to its advantages of high abundance, low cost, and low operating potential. However, the rate capability and cycle life span of hard carbon anodes are far from satisfactory, severely hindering its industrial applications. Here, we demonstrate that the desolvation process defines the Na-ion diffusion kinetics and the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI). The 3A zeolite molecular sieve film on the hard carbon is proposed to develop a step-by-step desolvation pathway that effectively reduces the high activation energy of the direct desolvation process. Moreover, step-by-step desolvation yields a thin and inorganic-dominated SEI with a lower activation energy for Na+ transport. As a result, it contributes to greatly improved power density and cycling stability for both ester and ether electrolytes. When the above insights are applied, the hard carbon anode achieves the longest life span and minimum capacity fading rate at all evaluated current densities. Moreover, with the increase in current densities, an improved plateau capacity ratio is observed. This step-by-step desolvation strategy comprehensively enhances various properties of hard carbon anodes, which provides the possibility of building practical Na-ion batteries with high power density, high energy density, and durability.