A Chemically Selective Fluorescent Probe Visualizes the Non‐Monotonic Evolution of the NaF‐Rich Interphase in Sodium‐Metal Batteries

ABSTRACT Alkali‐metal fluorides enable robust solid‐electrolyte interphases (SEIs) in metal batteries owing to their wide electrochemical stability windows and high mechanical stiffness. However, the complexity and dynamic behavior of SEIs have long hindered direct, chemically resolved visualization of fluoride‐rich domains, which is essential for decoding inorganic interphase dynamics and guiding rational battery formation. Here, tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)ethylene (H 4 TCPE) is used as a fluorescent probe for convenient, semi‐quantitative visualization of alkali‐metal fluoride‐rich interphases, enabled by a crystalline‐lattice‐specific matrix coordination‐induced emission effect mechanism. Under this mechanism, crystalline NaF exclusively activates H 4 TCPE fluorescence through strong hydrogen‐bonding and coordination interactions that lock the probe's rotation, whereas the probe remains non‐emissive on other SEI components because these phases fail to impose sufficient steric confinement. This chemical contrast enables ex situ and operando imaging and reveals an unexpected formation–breakdown–regeneration lifecycle of the NaF‐rich framework during cycling. This probe‐enabled semi‐quantitative tracking further identifies 1.0 mA cm −2 as the optimal formation current density, yielding the most continuous NaF‐rich framework, minimizing capacity loss, and ensuring stable cycling. Ultimately, this accessible, chemically selective optical strategy opens new avenues for probing fragile battery interphases and tailoring electrochemical protocols for high‐performance energy storage.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2026-09-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.3926577
Primary Topic
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A Chemically Selective Fluorescent Probe Visualizes the Non‐Monotonic Evolution of the NaF‐Rich Interphase in Sodium‐Metal Batteries

Xiaolin Guo, Liwei Dong, Zuotao Lei, Zijun Wang et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
article

A Chemically Selective Fluorescent Probe Visualizes the Non‐Monotonic Evolution of the NaF‐Rich Interphase in Sodium‐Metal Batteries

Xiaolin Guo, Liwei Dong, Zuotao Lei, Zijun Wang, Zhijun Chen, Min Niu, Jin Ren, Yining Lv, Jiale Wan
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Alkali‐metal fluorides enable robust solid‐electrolyte interphases (SEIs) in metal batteries owing to their wide electrochemical stability windows and high mechanical stiffness. However, the complexity and dynamic behavior of SEIs have long hindered direct, chemically resolved visualization of fluoride‐rich domains, which is essential for decoding inorganic interphase dynamics and guiding rational battery formation. Here, tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)ethylene (H 4 TCPE) is used as a fluorescent probe for convenient, semi‐quantitative visualization of alkali‐metal fluoride‐rich interphases, enabled by a crystalline‐lattice‐specific matrix coordination‐induced emission effect mechanism. Under this mechanism, crystalline NaF exclusively activates H 4 TCPE fluorescence through strong hydrogen‐bonding and coordination interactions that lock the probe's rotation, whereas the probe remains non‐emissive on other SEI components because these phases fail to impose sufficient steric confinement. This chemical contrast enables ex situ and operando imaging and reveals an unexpected formation–breakdown–regeneration lifecycle of the NaF‐rich framework during cycling. This probe‐enabled semi‐quantitative tracking further identifies 1.0 mA cm −2 as the optimal formation current density, yielding the most continuous NaF‐rich framework, minimizing capacity loss, and ensuring stable cycling. Ultimately, this accessible, chemically selective optical strategy opens new avenues for probing fragile battery interphases and tailoring electrochemical protocols for high‐performance energy storage.

Angewandte Chemie
Harbin Institute of Technology (CN), Northeast Forestry University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
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