Solvation‐Heterostructure Synergy Enables Reversible Four‐Electron Conversion in High‐Capacity Na‐Ion Electrodes

The practical deployment of high-capacity conversion-type electrode materials in Na-ion storage remains constrained by insufficient reaction kinetics and irreversible phase transitions. While extensive efforts have focused on optimizing the intrinsic structural stability and redox activity of electrode materials, the critical role of electrolyte solvation chemistry in mediating phase evolution dynamics has been underexplored. Herein, we propose a solvation engineering strategy utilizing dimethoxyethane (DME)-based electrolytes to enable kinetically favorable and fully reversible phase transitions in conversion-type MoSe<sub>2</sub>. We systematically reveal that the tailored Na<sup>+</sup>-2DME solvation structure eliminates energy-intensive desolvation barriers, facilitating direct co-intercalation of solvated Na<sup>+</sup> species into the MoSe<sub>2</sub> lattice. This mechanism not only accelerates interfacial charge transfer but also mitigates parasitic electrolyte decomposition. Moreover, the solvation-induced lattice expansion of MoSe<sub>2</sub> alleviates mechanical strain during repeated cycling, ensuring structural integrity and maintaining rapid ion diffusion pathways. Crucially, the solvation-assisted reaction pathway unlocks a four-electron transfer process of the double-heterostructures MoSe<sub>2</sub>-TiO<sub>2</sub>-MXene (MTM) anode, achieving complete conversion to Na<sub>2</sub>Se and Mo during sodiation, followed by near-theoretical regeneration of MoSe<sub>2</sub> upon desodiation. This study establishes a mechanistic framework for leveraging solvent-specific solvation effects to regulate phase transition thermodynamics and kinetics in conversion-type electrodes, offering universal design principles for high-performance Na-ion storage devices.

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Small
Published
2026-03-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202600059
Primary Topic
Advancements in Battery Materials
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article
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article

Solvation‐Heterostructure Synergy Enables Reversible Four‐Electron Conversion in High‐Capacity Na‐Ion Electrodes

Anxing Zhou, Q. Hao, Daniel Mandler, Keren Lu et al.
Small
Advancements in Battery Materials
article

Solvation‐Heterostructure Synergy Enables Reversible Four‐Electron Conversion in High‐Capacity Na‐Ion Electrodes

Anxing Zhou, Q. Hao, Daniel Mandler, Keren Lu, Feng Liu, Cai Liu, Shuwei Li, Xifeng Xia, Jiayi Tang, Lizhang Yang, Qiubo Guo, Z. X. Huang, Wu Lei, Peng Zhao, Haiyan Jing
article en

Abstract

The practical deployment of high-capacity conversion-type electrode materials in Na-ion storage remains constrained by insufficient reaction kinetics and irreversible phase transitions. While extensive efforts have focused on optimizing the intrinsic structural stability and redox activity of electrode materials, the critical role of electrolyte solvation chemistry in mediating phase evolution dynamics has been underexplored. Herein, we propose a solvation engineering strategy utilizing dimethoxyethane (DME)-based electrolytes to enable kinetically favorable and fully reversible phase transitions in conversion-type MoSe<sub>2</sub>. We systematically reveal that the tailored Na<sup>+</sup>-2DME solvation structure eliminates energy-intensive desolvation barriers, facilitating direct co-intercalation of solvated Na<sup>+</sup> species into the MoSe<sub>2</sub> lattice. This mechanism not only accelerates interfacial charge transfer but also mitigates parasitic electrolyte decomposition. Moreover, the solvation-induced lattice expansion of MoSe<sub>2</sub> alleviates mechanical strain during repeated cycling, ensuring structural integrity and maintaining rapid ion diffusion pathways. Crucially, the solvation-assisted reaction pathway unlocks a four-electron transfer process of the double-heterostructures MoSe<sub>2</sub>-TiO<sub>2</sub>-MXene (MTM) anode, achieving complete conversion to Na<sub>2</sub>Se and Mo during sodiation, followed by near-theoretical regeneration of MoSe<sub>2</sub> upon desodiation. This study establishes a mechanistic framework for leveraging solvent-specific solvation effects to regulate phase transition thermodynamics and kinetics in conversion-type electrodes, offering universal design principles for high-performance Na-ion storage devices.

Small
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL), Nanjing University of Science and Technology (CN), Institute of Physics (CN), Ministry of Education and Child Care (CA)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Advancements in Battery Materials
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