Work

Laser-carbonized anodes for sodium-ion batteries: A sustainable fabrication route toward spatially resolved and practical energy storage

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Laser-induced carbonization of polymer films offers a rapid, scalable, and additive-free route to functional carbon materials. Here, a hierarchically structured hard carbon anode is developed by laser carbonizing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)-based films under ambient conditions. Optimizing laser power yields a vertically graded architecture with a graphitic-like surface and a disordered, microporous core. The resulting binder- and additive-free anode exhibits high electronic conductivity, ion-accessible porosity, and mechanical stability. Despite high areal mass loading (>4 mg cm⁻²), the anode delivers high reversible capacity, excellent rate capability, and >85 % capacity retention over 300 cycles. Operando Raman spectroscopy reveals phase-specific sodium storage mechanisms: surface-confined interactions in graphitic regions and highly reversible pore-filling in disordered domains. These insights clarify the roles of local structure and porosity in charge storage. This work demonstrates laser carbonization as a powerful platform for producing performance-tuned carbon electrodes for practical sodium-ion battery applications.

Source: Energy storage materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104793

Authors: Sanghwa Moon, Enis Oğuzhan Eren, Jiyong Kim, Emeline Raguin, Markus Antonietti, Evgeny Senokos

Institutions: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research

Language: English

Topic: Advancements in Battery Materials

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,400