Nanostructured Conversion-Type Negative Electrode Materials for Low-Cost and High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Emerging sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted a great attention as promising energy storage devices because of their low cost and resource abundance. Nevertheless, it is still a major challenge to develop anode materials with outstanding rate capability and excellent cycling performance. Compared to intercalation-type anode materials, conversion-type anode materials are very potential due to their high specific capacity and low cost. A new insight and summary on the recent research advances on nanostructured conversion-type anode materials for SIBs is provided herein. The corresponding synthesis methods, sodium storage properties, electrochemical mechanisms, advanced techniques on studying the crystal structures, and optimization strategies for high-performance batteries are presented. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives for the future development of conversion-type anode materials in the energy storage fields are proposed.