A Robust Pomegranate‐Like CuSn@N,O‐C Anode for Superior Sodium‐Ion Storage
ABSTRACT Tin (Sn) metal possesses a high theoretical capacity as an anode for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), yet its practical use is hindered by poor cycling stability arising from severe mechanical degradation during repeated Na + insertion/extraction. Guided by stress distribution simulations, a pomegranate‐like architecture was identified as an optimal structural configuration, exhibiting ∼29% lower maximum von Mises stress than a conventional porous structure. Inspired by this design, a pomegranate‐structured composite was synthesized, featuring a porous CuSn alloy core encapsulated by a continuous N, O codoped carbon shell (CuSn@NOC). The material was fabricated through hydrothermal synthesis, polydopamine self‐polymerization, and oxygen‐deficient annealing. Benefiting from this hierarchical design, the anode delivers a high reversible capacity of 656.79 mAh g − 1 after 800 cycles at 500 mA g − 1 . A full cell paired with a Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 cathode achieves energy densities of 291.7 and 216.2 Wh kg − 1 at power densities of 1100 and 4400 W kg − 1 , respectively. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the porous core effectively dissipates stress, while the N‐doped carbon shell ensures structural integrity and suppresses particle pulverization. The synergistic effect with the electrochemically stable Cu 6 Sn 5 phase confers outstanding mechanical and electrochemical durability, offering a robust strategy for designing long‐life alloy‐based SIB anodes.
Authors
- Z H Wang
- Zhongchao Bai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6023-9900)
- Rizhen Qin
- Xiaojun Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3868-5642)
- Nana Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1947-5079)
- Bingjia Yin
- Meiqing Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1456-4889)
Institutions
- University of Technology Sydney (AU)
- University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (CN)
- Taiyuan University of Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2026-04-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.75526
- Primary Topic
- Advancements in Battery Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Shanxi Scholarship Council of China