Energy advances最新文献

{"title":"Separation of tellurium from various tellurides relevant for photovoltaics and from pre-product thin film solar cells for recycling by chemical vapor transport","authors":"Lucas H. Bemfert, Julian Burkhart, Moritz Maxeiner, Ruben Maile, Victoria S. Drescher and Klaus Müller-Buschbaum","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00305A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00305A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Thin-film solar cells based on CdTe are a viable technology for renewable energy generation due to their low production cost and relatively easy manufacturing. However, the scarcity and toxicity of Te necessitates the recovery of this element from end-of-life solar cells. In addition to CdTe, these solar cells contain several other tellurides, including Cu<small>₂</small>Te, ZnTe and SnTe. In this study, chemical vapor transport (CVT), using sulfur as a transport agent (TA), was utilised as an energy-efficient and waste-minimal method to separate Te from all the aforementioned tellurides in both open and closed systems. While transport rates of Te were demonstrated to be low in a closed system for CdTe and ZnTe, CVT in an open system can accelerate the procedure strongly, reaching recovery rates of 56% h<small>⁻¹</small> and 47% h<small>⁻¹</small> for CdTe and ZnTe resprectively. The Te recovery rate for SnTe was 32% h<small>⁻¹</small>, which was eighty times higher for the open system than in a closed system at moderate <em>T</em> = 425 °C. For Cu<small>₂</small>Te, the open system even enabled Te transport that was not possible in the closed system. The feasibility of the CVT for recycling was further demonstrated by the use of pre-product thin film solar cells. <em>In situ</em> experiments utilizing a transport balance comparing CVT of Te starting from elemental Te and from CdTe or ZnTe revealed that the redox reaction does not seriously slow down the process.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 5","pages":" 645-658"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00305a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrogen production via electrolysis and ultrasound-assisted sonoelectrolysis: evaluating NiO, CoO, and MnO2 catalyst performance and process efficiency","authors":"Yew Heng Teoh, Wong Yang Han, Heoy Geok How, Haseeb Yaqoob, Mohamad Yusof Idroas, Saad Uddin Mahmud, Thanh Danh Le, Muhammad Ahmad and Muhammad Wakil Shahzad","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00325C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00325C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study investigates the optimization of hydrogen production by comparing standard electrolysis with ultrasound-assisted sonoelectrolysis. The catalytic performance of NiO, CoO, and MnO<small>₂</small> was evaluated at operating temperatures of 30 °C, 45 °C, and 60 °C to determine the most effective conditions for maximising H<small>₂</small> production rate and energy efficiency. Using a design of experiments (DOE) framework and response surface methodology (RSM), predictive models were developed and experimentally validated. Sonoelectrolysis achieved a higher production rate (67.2 cm<small>³</small> h<small>⁻¹</small>) than standard electrolysis (62 cm<small>³</small> h<small>⁻¹</small>) but with reduced energy efficiency (2.14% <em>vs.</em> 4.37%) due to additional ultrasonic energy demands. For both methods, optimal conditions were consistently found at 60 °C with NiO as the catalyst. Statistical analysis showed that standard electrolysis followed a simple linear model, while sonoelectrolysis required a more complex quadratic model to capture the significant effects of temperature and catalyst type. The regression models were validated with low error rates (0.23–1.10%), providing a quantitative understanding of the performance gains and efficiency trade-offs in sonoelectrolysis, and offering guidance for advancing green hydrogen technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 505-517"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00325c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced Cr(vi) removal and power generation in tannery wastewater using ORR-optimized cathodes in single-chamber microbial fuel cells","authors":"Dena Z. Khater, R. S. Amin, Amani E. Fetohi, Mohamed Mahmoud and K. M. El-Khatib","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00299K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00299K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The environment and human health are seriously threatened by hazardous heavy metals, including hexavalent chromium [Cr(<small>VI</small>)], due to its toxicity and mobility. Single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a simple, cost-effective configuration and an emerging technology for bioremediation of Cr(<small>VI</small>)-containing tannery wastewater into renewable energy. This study proposes a straightforward strategy to enhance Cr(<small>VI</small>) bioremediation and electricity generation in MFCs treating real tannery wastewater. This approach involves optimizing the anodic biofilm to sustain organic degradation under high Cr(<small>VI</small>) concentrations and developing low-cost, highly active oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cathodes to replace precious metal catalysts such as Pt/C. In the optimized configuration, the MFCs achieved a Cr(<small>VI</small>) removal efficiency of 93.05 ± 2.35, 90.14 ± 5.8, 85.83 ± 4.8, and 73.61 ± 5.53% with a Coulombic efficiency of 37.09 ± 4.85, 31.04 ± 3.08, 26.74 ± 3.16, and 21.1 ± 23.29% for Pt/C, Ag<small>₂</small>O–MnO<small>₂</small>/rGO–NiPc, PdO–MnO<small>₂</small>/rGO, and control MFC, demonstrating the system's strong environmental performance. Additionally, tannery MFCs (TMFCs) equipped with Pt/C and Ag<small>₂</small>O–MnO<small>₂</small>/rGO–NiPc cathodes exhibited relatively higher power output (<em>i.e.</em>, 24.76 and 21.14 mW m<small>⁻³</small>, respectively) compared with PdO–MnO<small>₂</small>/rGO–TMFC (19.94 mW m<small>⁻³</small>) and the control TMFC (13.21 mW m<small>⁻³</small>). These findings offer a promising strategy for effective chromium remediation in treating tannery wastewater streams.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 528-537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00299k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unfolding the potential of the AgSbSe2 chalcogenide for advancements in solar cell and photodetector technologies","authors":"Mst Zerin Zafrin Nizu, Bipanko Kumar Mondal, Md. Abdur Rashid, Sangita Rani Basu and Jaker Hossain","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00322A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00322A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The significance of employing a singular, multifunctional material in solar cells and photodetectors has increased due to its substantial impact on device performance. This study presents the design guidelines and an inclusive simulation of high-performance chalcogenide AgSbSe<small>₂</small>-based solar cells and photodetectors using SCAPS-1D for the first time. Through a comprehensive analysis, the potential of multifunctional optoelectronic applications is highlighted by combining an n-CdS window layer with three back surface field (BSF) materials: Al<small>_<em>x</em></small>Ga<small>_{1−<em>x</em>}</small>Sb, FeS<small>₂</small>, and Cu<small>₂</small>SnS<small>₃</small> (CTS). Among all the examined structures, the n-CdS/p-AgSbSe<small>₂</small>/p<small>⁺</small>-Al<small>_<em>x</em></small>Ga<small>_{1−<em>x</em>}</small>Sb configuration exhibits the highest open circuit voltage (<em>V</em><small>_OC</small>) of 0.85 V and an idealized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 34.32%, along with a fill factor (FF) of 86.64% and a short circuit current density (<em>J</em><small>_SC</small>) of 46.35 mA cm<small>⁻²</small>. Nevertheless, the n-CdS/p-AgSbSe<small>₂</small>/p<small>⁺</small>-FeS<small>₂</small> and n-CdS/p-AgSbSe<small>₂</small>/p<small>⁺</small>-CTS structures exhibit PCEs of 30.37% and 30.30%, respectively, with the corresponding <em>V</em><small>_OC</small> values of 0.74 V and 0.76 V, underscoring their distinct photovoltaic characteristics. Furthermore, with proper optimization, the AgSbSe<small>₂</small>-based photodetector demonstrates a remarkable responsivity of 0.81 A W<small>⁻¹</small> and an excellent detectivity of 2.93 × 10<small>¹⁵</small> Jones at a wavelength of 1100 nm. Due to the superior band alignment of n-CdS/p-AgSbSe<small>₂</small>/p<small>⁺</small>-Al<small>_<em>x</em></small>Ga<small>_{1−<em>x</em>}</small>Sb, a higher built-in potential of approximately 2.37 V is achieved by capacitance–voltage (C–V) analysis, which effectively enhances the maximum <em>V</em><small>_OC</small> and overall efficiency of the device.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 487-504"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00322a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elucidating the influence of secondary nitrogen precursors on the performance of Fe–N–C catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells","authors":"Winnie Kong, Emre B. Boz, Marta C. Costa Figueiredo and Antoni Forner-Cuenca","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00357A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5YA00357A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) offer high efficiency, rapid refueling, and zero-carbon operation, but their commercialization is constrained by the cost of platinum-based oxygen reduction catalysts. Transition metal–nitrogen–carbon materials, particularly Fe–N–C, are promising platinum-free alternatives, although their activity and durability still require improvement. Ammonia is often introduced during synthesis to enhance nitrogen incorporation, but safer nitrogen sources are desirable to simplify processing and reduce associated hazards. Here, we investigate the use of urea, melamine, cyanoguanidine, and nicarbazin as nitrogen precursors during the thermal activation of ZIF-8-derived Fe–N–C catalysts, aiming to promote nitrogen incorporation and active-site formation without the use of ammonia. Structural analysis reveals that the use of urea, melamine, and cyanoguanidine during heat-treatment largely preserve the ZIF-8 morphology, while nicarbazin leads to the formation carbonaceous flakes. The high surface area of ZIF-8 (∼1600 m<small>²</small> g<small>⁻¹</small>) is partially retained after pyrolysis (∼1200 m<small>²</small> g<small>⁻¹</small>). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals enhanced nitrogen content and increased Fe–N<small>_<em>x</em></small> species, most notably in urea-activated samples. Electrochemical testing in an acidic electrolyte confirms higher onset potentials and mass activities for urea- and melamine-activated catalysts compared to the control, with consistent trends observed in rotating disk electrode and single-cell PEMFC measurements. Despite their lower intrinsic activity compared to Pt/C, Fe–N–C catalysts exhibit enhanced ORR kinetics when secondary nitrogen precursors are used during synthesis. Despite elevated peroxide yields predicted from rotating ring disk electrode measurements, ion chromatography indicates a modest increase in ionomer degradation compared to Pt/C during fuel cell tests. Overall, nitrogen-rich molecular precursors enhance Fe–N–C activity while providing a safer and scalable pathway for nitrogen doping, advancing the development of cost-effective non-platinum catalysts for fuel cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 571-586"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147482461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An aqueous lithium polyacrylic acid binder enables sulfur distribution and high active material loading to enhance Li–S battery performance","authors":"Dharmapura H. K. Murthy, Pranjalee Ghosh, Syeda Reha Khadri and Manu U. M. Patel","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00380F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00380F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered next-generation batteries due to the multiple advantages of using cost-effective sulfur as a cathode material. The development of high-performance and sustainable Li–S battery cathodes demands high active material loading and replacement of traditionally used toxic solvents to dissolve binders in electrode fabrication. Herein, we demonstrate the application of lithium polyacrylic acid (LiPAA) as an aqueous binder to realize high active material loading in Li–S battery cathodes. This approach offers a safe and environmentally friendly alternative that enhances performance compared to the widely employed conventional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder, which is processed with the toxic solvent <em>N</em>-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Optical spectroscopy and microscopy analyses revealed sulfur dissolution in NMP solvent during electrode fabrication, resulting in non-uniform sulfur redistribution within the cathode. This structural inhomogeneity adversely affected electrode integrity and contributed to inadequate electrochemical performance of the battery, particularly under high C-rate conditions. In contrast, electrodes fabricated with the LiPAA binder did not show sulfur dissolution and offered better cyclability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate and understand the differences in the battery performance of the prepared electrodes. Our results underscore LiPAA as a viable, scalable, and environmentally friendly binder system for enhancing the performance and stability of Li–S batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 518-527"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00380f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uniformity, performance, and durability of roll-to-roll-coated iridium oxide electrolyzer catalyst layers","authors":"Scott A. Mauger, Sanghun Lee, Robin Rice, Elliot Padgett, Sarah Zaccarine, Maryam Ahmadi, Mariah Batool, Kimberly S. Reeves, David A. Cullen, Svitlana Pylypenko, Jasna Jankovic and Michael Ulsh","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00309A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00309A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This work investigates the use of roll-to-roll coating methods for the production of iridium oxide catalyst layers for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Catalyst layers were produced using two coating methods: slot die and gravure. By varying the solids content of the catalyst ink and coating process variables loadings between 0.08 and 0.64 mg<small>_Ir</small> cm<small>⁻²</small> were prepared with relatively high spatial uniformity. However, at loadings below 0.2 mg<small>_Ir</small> cm<small>⁻²</small> microscopy reveals voids in the catalyst layer due to similar length scales of catalyst agglomerates and overall layer thickness. Electrochemical testing shows that these voids do not impact initial membrane electrode assembly performance but lead to increased performance losses after potential cycling compared to spray coated catalyst layers.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 394-407"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00309a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical investigation of highly efficient chlorine-doped perovskite solar cells","authors":"Md Abdul Kuddus Sheikh, Md. Shazarul Islam and Hasina Huq","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00343A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00343A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In this study, we present a comprehensive numerical investigation of chlorine-doped perovskite solar cells using the SCAPS-1D simulation framework, with the device structure ITO/ZnO/CH<small>₃</small>NH<small>₃</small>PbI<small>_{3−<em>x</em>}</small>Cl<small>_<em>x</em></small>/NiO<small>_<em>x</em></small>/Au. This work focuses on optimizing active-layer properties and compositional engineering to enhance photovoltaic performance. Initially, the influence of absorber thickness on device parameters was investigated, revealing that CH<small>₃</small>NH<small>₃</small>PbI<small>₃</small> achieves optimal performance at 800 nm thickness, delivering a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.17%, along with a short circuit current density (<em>J</em><small>_sc</small>) of 25.31 mA cm<small>⁻²</small>, an open circuit voltage (<em>V</em><small>_oc</small>) of 1.15 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 82.75%. Subsequently, chlorine incorporation was systematically varied to evaluate its effect on device performance. The composition MAPbI<small>_2.8</small>Cl<small>_0.2</small> emerged as the most favorable, achieving an enhanced PCE of 27.34%, with <em>J</em><small>_sc</small> = 25.00 mA cm<small>⁻²</small>, <em>V</em><small>_oc</small> = 1.31 V, and FF = 83.63%. Finally, comparative simulations across different electron transport layers, hole transport layers, absorber materials, and lead-free perovskites highlight the performance advantages of an optimized structure. Our simulated results provide valuable insights into the design of highly efficient Cl-doped perovskite solar cells and demonstrate the potential of compositional tuning for next-generation photovoltaic devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 4","pages":" 477-486"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00343a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147734810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fully printed energy storage devices on consumer paper substrates: an eco-friendly approach for a low-cost and disposable smart electronics system","authors":"Elena Palmieri, Abhinandan Patra, Giuseppina Polino, Hamed Javanbakht Lomeri, Elisa Casagrande, Giovanni Landi, Luca La Notte, Jenny Baker, Bas De Jong, Francesca De Rossi, Silvia Orlanducci and Francesca Brunetti","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00352K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00352K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The integration of electronic devices into wearable applications has revolutionized the way we interact with technology. The utilization of sustainable materials that align with the principles of environmental consciousness makes it more remarkable. In this context, we propose the fabrication of an energy storage device, a supercapacitor, prepared following a “green approach”, starting from the substrate used for its fabrication, <em>i.e.</em>, various paper-based materials, and continuing through to the final step. The device fabrication was achieved through screen printing, a scalable and efficient technique that enables precise deposition of materials while eliminating waste. The electrode component is carbon-based, offering cost-effectiveness and mechanical durability, while the use of sodium alginate as both the electrolyte and the interlayer represents a significant innovation. By playing a dual role, sodium alginate reduces the need for additional materials, simplifying the manufacturing process and lowering the device's overall environmental impact. Sodium alginate, derived from renewable and sustainable sources, possesses exceptional biocompatibility and eco-friendliness. Its high ion conductivity and excellent film-forming capabilities make it particularly well-suited for flexible and wearable electronic devices. The power of the obtained interdigitated supercapacitor ranged between ∼880 µW kg<small>⁻¹</small> and 505 mW kg<small>⁻¹</small>. This approach not only optimizes the device structure but also reduces its ecological footprint, aligning with the growing demand for low-cost green energy technologies and sustainable materials in electronic applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 5","pages":" 754-765"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00352k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modification strategies and recent advances of sodium titanate anode materials for enhanced electrochemical performance in sodium ion batteries","authors":"W. P. U. S. Wickramarathna and N. P. W. Rathuwadu","doi":"10.1039/D5YA00317B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5YA00317B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are prospective next-generation alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Recently, most research has focused on the sodium titanate (NTO) structure as a possible anode with a low operating potential for SIBs. Furthermore, NTO has excellent stability and safety, and a suitable sodium storage capability. Although there are various types of NTOs, such as NaTiO<small>₂</small>, Na<small>₄</small>Ti<small>₅</small>O<small>₁₂</small>, Na<small>₂</small>Ti<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small>, and Na<small>₂</small>Ti<small>₃</small>O<small>₇</small>, the most common NTO with a low operating voltage of 0.3 V <em>vs.</em> Na/Na<small>⁺</small> is layered Na<small>₂</small>Ti<small>₃</small>O<small>₇</small>. However, the sluggish ion insertion/extraction kinetics, substantial lattice expansion, low electronic conductivity, and the low Na<small>⁺</small> ion diffusion limit the electrochemical performance of NTO. To address these challenges, several modification techniques have been developed, including nanostructure engineering, ion doping, the incorporation of carbon-based composites, carbon coating, and other surface modification techniques. Herein, the types of NTOs and the corresponding modification strategies that enhance the electrochemical performance of NTO anodes are outlined. The effects of these modification strategies on the NTO structure and their resulting electrochemical improvements are systematically summarized. Nanostructure engineering is widely employed in NTO anodes because the large surface area of the nanosized structures will accelerate surface processes, thereby improving the electrochemical properties. SIB research for stationary energy storage will be substantially aided by the use of modified NTO anode materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":72913,"journal":{"name":"Energy advances","volume":" 3","pages":" 249-262"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/ya/d5ya00317b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147558208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}