Communication-Surprisingly High Fast Charge Volumetric Capacities of Hard Carbon Electrodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries

We show herein that electrode-level effects of commercially-available hard carbon (HC) material, as a function of the HC loading, can have two surprising positive outcomes in sodium-ion (Na-ion) pouch cells. First, a HC electrode's plating-free volumetric capacity actually increases as its loading (and areal capacity) decreases, and secondly, the plating-free volumetric capacity at sub-30 min charging times for HC as Na-ion anode, can be better vs that of graphite anode in lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells at the electrode-level, and actually be significantly higher than the latter at sub-20 min and sub-15 min charging times, despite HC's lower density than graphite.

Automated summary

This study reveals that the electrode-level effects of commercially-available hard carbon material can have positive outcomes in sodium-ion pouch cells, with an increase in plating-free volumetric capacity and better performance compared to graphite anodes in lithium-ion cells, particularly at shorter charging times. Despite the lower density of hard carbon, it can exhibit significantly higher capacity at sub-20 min and sub-15 min charging times in Na-ion pouch cells.