Two-dimensional materials: synthesis and application in lithium/sodium ion batteries

Since its first commercialization in 1991s, the lithium-ion battery (LIB) has been widely used in portable electronics and electric vehicles. Current research aims to develop next-generation lithium-ion batteries with higher power density, faster-charging capability, better safety, and lower cost. The sodium-ion battery (SIB) has attracted much attention in recent years triggered by the lower cost of sodium. The currently used graphite anode for lithium-ion batteries cannot be used to sodium-ion batteries due to the larger ion radius of sodium. Developing a proper anode for the sodium-ion battery is critically important to for its commercialization. Over the last two decades, a variety of anode materials for lithium/sodium ion batteries have been investigated. Among them, materials with two-dimensional (2D) structure have shown great potential due to their large surface area and short ion/electron transfer paths. Developing new 2D anode materials or optimizing existing anode materials were the major part of this doctoral work.