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Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) nanocomposites were synthesized and used as a cathode in a novel rechargeable Na+/K+ hybrid battery with high performance for the first time. When 0.9 mol NaPF6 and 0.1 mol KPF6 were dissolved in ethylene carbonate (EC)/dimethyl carbonate(DMC)/ethyl methyl cabonate(EMC) (4:3:2, v/v/v), used as hybrid electrolyte, Na foil was used as the anode, and SPAN composites were used as the cathode, a hybrid ion system was created via composition–decomposition between Na+/K+ and SPAN and stripping–depositing of Na+ with suppressed dendrites by taking advantage of the self-healing electrostatic shield effect. As a result, a highly reversible calculated capacity of 1405.5 mAh gsulfur−1 with a coulombic efficiency approaching 100% after 100 cycles was obtained at a current density of 35 mA g−1. This environmentally benign, low-cost Na+/K+ hybrid battery shows promise as a new future flexible energy storage system (ESS) technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal anode still confronts a series of problems at the way to commercialization though it has advantages in high energy density. The formation of Li dendrite is the major limitation need to be conquered. Here, a facile and simple LiSn alloy anode prepared by a direct metallurgy method is fabricated and evaluated in both liquid electrolyte and solid electrolyte. Structural analysis and electrochemical measurements reveal the promoted ionic transference of interface and enhanced cycling stability in different electrolyte systems, without dendrite formation. Furthermore, the application of this simple and sustainable LiSn alloy can be extended to more alloy anode and might unlock the next-generation anode in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]