IN SITU SPECTROSCOPY INVESTIGATION OF ALKALI METAL INTERACTION MECHANISM WITH ORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR FOR STABILIZING ALKALI METAL ANODES

Abstract

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation rechargeable devices. However, the uncontrollable growth of sodium dendrites remains a significant challenge in achieving stable cycling performance and safety, thereby impeding the practical application of SMBs. To mitigate this issue, various strategies have been proposed to stabilize sodium metal anodes (SMAs), such as optimizing electrolyte compositions, constructing anode hosts, and establishing protective layers. Although recent studies have demonstrated significant improvements in the performance of SMBs, the understanding of interaction mechanisms between SMAs and protective materials remains limited. Therefore, to rationally design novel protective materials for SMAs, a comprehensive investigation of the interfacial reactions between sodium metal and protective materials with different functional groups is necessary. Aiming to address this gap, we conducted three in-situ investigations through surface techniques, using organic semiconductor model systems with unique functional groups, which can provide direct evidence without the influence of complex battery systems.