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Hybrid materials, integrating the merits of individual components, are ideal structures for efficient sodium storage. However, the construction of hybrid structures with decent physical/electrochemical properties is still challenging. Now, the elaborate design and synthesis of hierarchical nanoboxes composed of three‐layered Cu2S@carbon@MoS2 as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries is reported. Through a facile multistep template‐engaged strategy, ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets are grown on nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu2S nanoboxes to realize the Cu2S@carbon@MoS2 configuration. The design shortens the diffusion path of electrons/Na+ ions, accommodates the volume change of electrodes during cycling, enhances the electric conductivity of the hybrids, and offers abundant active sites for sodium uptake. By virtue of these advantages, these three‐layered Cu2S@carbon@MoS2 hierarchical nanoboxes show excellent electrochemical properties in terms of decent rate capability and stable cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of hybrid architectures for electrode materials has been demonstrated as an efficient strategy to boost sodium‐storage properties because of the synergetic effect of each component. However, the fabrication of hybrid nanostructures with a rational structure and desired composition for effective sodium storage is still challenging. In this study, an integrated nanostructure composed of copper‐substituted CoS2@CuxS double‐shelled nanoboxes (denoted as Cu‐CoS2@CuxS DSNBs) was synthesized through a rational metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based templating strategy. The unique shell configuration and complex composition endow the Cu‐CoS2@CuxS DSNBs with enhanced electrochemical performance in terms of superior rate capability and stable cyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal sulfides have received considerable attention for efficient sodium storage owing to their high capacity and decent redox reversibility. However, the poor rate capability and fast capacity decay greatly hinder their practical application in sodium‐ion batteries. Herein, an elegant multi‐step templating strategy has been developed to rationally synthesize hierarchical double‐shelled nanoboxes with the CoS2 nanosheet‐constructed outer shell supported on the CuS inner shell. Their structure and composition enable these hierarchical CuS@CoS2 nanoboxes to show boosted electrochemical properties with high capacity, outstanding rate capability, and long cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered metal oxides have attracted increasing attention as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the application of such cathode materials is still hindered by their poor rate capability and cycling stability. Here, a facile self-templated strategy is developed to synthesize uniform P2-Na0.7CoO2 microspheres. Due to the unique microsphere structure, the contact area of the active material with electrolyte is minimized. As expected, the P2-Na0.7CoO2 microspheres exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance for sodium storage in terms of high reversible capacity (125 mAh g−1 at 5 mA g−1), superior rate capability and long cycle life (86 % capacity retention over 300 cycles). Importantly, the synthesis method can be easily extended to synthesize other layered metal oxide (P2-Na0.7MnO2 and O3-NaFeO2) microspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C nanocomposite is successfully synthesized by a simple pre-reduction and subsequent calcination process. The structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of the Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C nanocomposite are investigated. The Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C electrode delivered an initial discharge capacity of 106 mAh g −1 at a current rate of 20 mA g −1 , equivalent to reversible storage of 1.8 Na per unit of Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 . The electrode also exhibited excellent rate capability, as it could release 92 mAh g −1 at 500 mA g −1 , 77 mAh g −1 at 1000 mA g −1 , and 47 mAh g −1 at 2000 mA g −1 . The preliminary experimental results suggest that this Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C nanocomposite is a promising cathode material for low-cost and high-performance Na ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]