Superconcentration Strategy Allows Sodium Metal Compatibility in Deep Eutectic Solvents for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are a more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) considering the abundance, global distribution, and low cost of sodium. However, their economic impact remains small compared to LIBs, owing in part to the lag in materials development where significant improvements in energy density and safety remain to be realized. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) show promise as alternatives to conventional electrolytes in SIBs because of their nonflammable nature. However, their practical application has thus far been hindered by their limited electrochemical stability window. In particular, DESs based on N-methylacetamide have thus far been reported not to be stable with sodium metal. In contrast, this work reports a superconcentration strategy where sodium-ion conducting DESs, based on the dissolution of NaFSI in N-methylacetamide, are simultaneously stable with sodium metal and Prussian blue as state-of-the-art positive electrode material. At 60 degrees C, the nonflammable DES outperforms a conventional liquid electrolyte in terms of rate performance and capacity retention. Therefore, these novel DES compositions pave the way for the use of DESs in practical applications with an improved safety and sustainability.