Suppression of Dendrite Growth and Enhanced Sodiophilicity in Sodium Metal Batteries by Sb‐Coated Zn Current Collector

Why It Matters

By mitigating dendrite formation and enhancing sodiophilicity, Sb@Zn paves the way for durable, low‑cost sodium metal batteries, accelerating their commercial viability.

Key Takeaways

• Sb@Zn increases Na binding energy.
• Uniform Na deposition reduces dendrite formation.
• Symmetric cells last 600 h at 1 mA cm⁻².
• Cycling stability reaches 500 cycles at 5C.
• Scalable alloying strategy for next‑gen SMBs.

Pulse Analysis

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are emerging as a cost‑effective alternative to lithium‑ion systems, thanks to sodium’s abundance and low material cost. Yet, SMBs have struggled with rapid dendrite growth and unstable solid electrolyte interphases, which limit cycle life and safety. Researchers have therefore focused on engineering current collectors that can both attract sodium ions and guide their deposition uniformly, a concept known as sodiophilicity. Improving these interfacial properties is critical for unlocking the high energy density potential of SMBs.

The Sb‑coated Zn (Sb@Zn) collector tackles these challenges through a dual‑function design. First‑principles calculations reveal that antimony atoms embedded in the zinc lattice raise the Na binding energy, creating energetically favorable sites for sodium nucleation. Second, the Sb nanosheets form a hierarchical, high‑surface‑area scaffold that distributes current density evenly, preventing the localized hotspots that spark dendrite formation. During cycling, Sb and Zn alloy to form stable Sb‑Zn phases, further reinforcing the anode structure and maintaining a robust solid electrolyte interphase.

Electrochemical testing validates the theoretical advantages: Sb@Zn delivers 500 cycles at a demanding 5 C rate and sustains symmetric cell operation for over 600 hours at 1 mA cm⁻². These metrics surpass bare Zn and position Sb@Zn as a scalable solution for next‑generation SMBs. The approach leverages inexpensive, widely available metals, suggesting a clear pathway for large‑scale manufacturing. As the industry seeks sustainable, high‑performance storage, the Sb@Zn strategy could become a cornerstone technology, accelerating the transition from laboratory prototypes to commercial sodium‑based energy storage systems.