The chance of sodium titanate anode for the practical sodium-ion batteries

Supporting sustainable green energy systems, there is a big demand gap for grid energy storage. Sodium-ion storage, especially sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), have advanced significantly and are now emerging as a feasible alternative to the lithium-ion batteries equivalent in large-scale energy storage due to their natural abundance and prospective inexpensive cost. Among various anode materials of SIBs, beneficial properties, such as outstanding stability, great abundance, and environmental friendliness, make sodium titanates (NTOs), one of the most promising anode materials for the rechargeable SIBs. Nevertheless, there are still enormous challenges in application of NTO, owing to its low intrinsic electronic conductivity and collapse of structure. The research on NTOs is still in its infancy; there are few conclusive reviews about the specific function of various modification methods. Herein, we summarize the typical strategies of optimization and analysis the fine structures and fabrication methods of NTO anodes combined with the application of in situ characterization techniques. Our work provides effective guidance for promoting the continuous development, equipping NTOs in safety-critical systems, and lays a foundation for the development of NTO-anode materials in SIBs.