Layered titanate structure optimized for sodium-ion mobility

Sodium-Ion Batteries: How to Boost Performance with a Tiny Tweak?

Theo Raines in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the critical role of interlayer sodium sites and how modifying them enhances battery activity in layered titanate."

As the demand for energy storage solutions surges, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a strong contender to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). SIBs offer the advantage of using sodium, a much more abundant and cost-effective element compared to lithium. While SIBs operate on similar principles as LIBs, the larger size and heavier mass of sodium ions present unique challenges that researchers are actively working to overcome.

One of the key areas of focus is the development of materials that can efficiently accommodate the movement of sodium ions. Layered titanates, known for their stability and non-toxicity, have shown promise as anode materials for SIBs. However, maximizing their potential requires innovative approaches to improve their performance.

Recent research highlights the importance of the space between the layers of titanate, known as interlayer sites. By carefully manipulating the chemical environment within these interlayer spaces, scientists are finding ways to enhance the overall performance of sodium-ion batteries.

Unlocking Battery Potential: The Magic of Interlayer Modification

Layered titanate structure optimized for sodium-ion mobility

The latest research focuses on fine-tuning the chemical environments of the interlayer sodium sites within layered titanate. The key to this process involves the introduction of n-alkylamines, organic molecules with varying alkyl chain lengths, into the interlayer spaces. This process, called intercalation, is achieved through ion-exchange and exfoliation-restacking methods, allowing researchers to precisely modify the structure of the layered titanate.

Think of layered titanate like a multi-story building, and the n-alkylamines are like carefully placed furniture within the floors. By changing the furniture (alkyl chain length), scientists can alter the layout of the building (interlayer environment) and influence how easily sodium ions (residents) can move throughout the structure.

Ion-Exchange: Swapping existing ions in the titanate structure with n-alkylamines.
Exfoliation-Restacking: Separating the titanate layers and then reassembling them with n-alkylamines in between.

Among the various n-alkylamine intercalates tested, n-pentylamine-intercalated titanate stood out, demonstrating the highest discharge capacity and the best rate characteristics. This finding underscores the importance of optimizing the intracrystalline structure to enhance SIB electrode performance. Imagine the ideal furniture arrangement which makes movement easier. Also, turbostratic in-plane structure degrades the SIB electrode performance of layered titanate, indicating the detrimental effect of in-plane structural disorder on electrode activity.

The Future of Sodium-Ion Batteries: Tailoring the Interlayer

This research highlights the significant impact of increasing the population of interlayer metal sites away from the host layers. This approach proves effective in enhancing the electrode functionality of layered metal oxides for SIBs and potentially for multivalent ion batteries as well. By understanding and manipulating the chemical environment at the nanoscale, researchers are paving the way for more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions.

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Everything You Need To Know

Why are sodium-ion batteries considered a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries?

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining traction because they utilize sodium, an element that is significantly more abundant and less expensive than lithium, which is used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This abundance makes SIBs a cost-effective option for energy storage. While SIBs and LIBs share similar operational principles, the larger size and heavier mass of sodium ions introduce specific challenges that researchers are actively addressing to enhance their performance.

What role do interlayer sodium sites play in the performance of sodium-ion batteries, and why is modifying them important?

Interlayer sodium sites are the spaces between the layers of layered titanate, a material used as an anode in SIBs. The efficiency of sodium-ion movement within these sites directly impacts battery performance. Modifying the chemical environment within these interlayer spaces is crucial because it influences how easily sodium ions can move throughout the layered titanate structure. Manipulating these spaces, for instance, by introducing n-alkylamines, allows scientists to optimize the conditions for sodium-ion transport, thereby boosting battery performance. Specifically, the n-pentylamine-intercalated titanate showed the highest discharge capacity and best rate characteristics.

How are researchers modifying the interlayer spaces of layered titanate to improve SIB performance, and what is the process called?

Researchers are modifying the interlayer spaces of layered titanate through a process called intercalation. This involves introducing n-alkylamines, organic molecules with varying alkyl chain lengths, into the interlayer spaces of layered titanate. This process uses methods such as ion-exchange and exfoliation-restacking to precisely change the structure. Ion-exchange involves swapping existing ions in the titanate structure with n-alkylamines, while exfoliation-restacking separates the titanate layers and reassembles them with n-alkylamines in between. This manipulation alters the interlayer environment, improving sodium-ion movement and battery efficiency.

What are the key methods used to introduce n-alkylamines into the interlayer spaces of layered titanate, and how do they work?

The key methods are ion-exchange and exfoliation-restacking. Ion-exchange involves replacing ions within the titanate structure with n-alkylamines. Exfoliation-restacking involves separating the layers of the layered titanate and then reassembling them with n-alkylamines strategically placed between the layers. Both methods aim to carefully modify the environment within the interlayer spaces, optimizing the movement of sodium ions and therefore the overall performance of the sodium-ion battery.

Besides the interlayer modifications, what other structural aspects of layered titanate affect SIB performance, and what is the future direction of research?

Besides interlayer modifications, the in-plane structure of the layered titanate plays a critical role. A turbostratic in-plane structure can degrade SIB electrode performance, highlighting the detrimental effects of structural disorder on electrode activity. The research emphasizes increasing the population of interlayer metal sites away from the host layers, a strategy that has shown effectiveness in improving the electrode functionality of layered metal oxides. This approach is not only promising for SIBs but also holds potential for multivalent ion batteries. Future research will likely focus on further manipulating the chemical environment at the nanoscale to create more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions.