Potential-dependent interfacial specific adsorption accelerates charge transfer in sodium-ion batteries

Potential-dependent interfacial specific adsorption accelerates charge transfer in sodium-ion batteries | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Potential-dependent interfacial specific adsorption accelerates charge transfer in sodium-ion batteries Yao Xiao, Shao-Wen Xu, Wei Liu, Xu Zhu, Zhuozheng Hong, Lisheng Qian, and 9 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6307444/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 17 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Fast-charging capabilities of sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a pivotal objective within the energy storage fields. Sodium layered P2-type oxide cathodes have the most potential for fast charging due to their inherent fast Na + mobility. However, their electrochemical polarization and interfacial charge transfer especially at high state of charge are limiting factors in quick kinetic response for large current. Herein, we demonstrate that a typical P2-type cathode (Na 0.7 Ni 0.27 Mn 0.53 Cu 0.04 Fe 0.08 Ti 0.08 O 2 ) achieves high-rate capacities through avoiding octahedral stacking faults, maintaining lattice oxygen activity and controlling anion-specific adsorption. The intermediate Z-phase intergrowth structure mitigate kinetic hysteresis and thermodynamic polarization by simultaneously suppressing the detrimental P2−O2 phase evolution and irreversible oxygen redox. The potential-dependent competitive adsorption mechanism between anions and solvent molecules is revealed within the inner Helmholtz plane (IHP), where optimized anion-specific adsorption elevates potential difference between cathodes and IHP, accelerating charge transfer across the electrode/electrolyte interface. Furthermore, the F-rich cathode/electrolyte interphase generated from IHP avoids transition metal dissolution and surface lattice collapse for stable long-term cycling. This study highlights the synergistic coupling interaction between bulk phase stability and interfacial environment optimization in ensuring fast Na + /charge transport kinetics for sodium-ion batteries. Physical sciences/Energy science and technology/Energy storage/Batteries Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials for energy and catalysis/Batteries Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files SupplementaryInformation.docx Potential-dependent interfacial specific adsorption accelerates charge transfer in sodium-ion batteries Supplementary Information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 17 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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Sodium layered P2-type oxide cathodes have the most potential for fast charging due to their inherent fast Na\u003csup\u003e+\u003c/sup\u003e mobility. However, their electrochemical polarization and interfacial charge transfer especially at high state of charge are limiting factors in quick kinetic response for large current. Herein, we demonstrate that a typical P2-type cathode (Na\u003csub\u003e0.7\u003c/sub\u003eNi\u003csub\u003e0.27\u003c/sub\u003eMn\u003csub\u003e0.53\u003c/sub\u003eCu\u003csub\u003e0.04\u003c/sub\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e0.08\u003c/sub\u003eTi\u003csub\u003e0.08\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e) achieves high-rate capacities through avoiding octahedral stacking faults, maintaining lattice oxygen activity and controlling anion-specific adsorption. The intermediate Z-phase intergrowth structure mitigate kinetic hysteresis and thermodynamic polarization by simultaneously suppressing the detrimental P2\u0026minus;O2 phase evolution and irreversible oxygen redox. The potential-dependent competitive adsorption mechanism between anions and solvent molecules is revealed within the inner Helmholtz plane (IHP), where optimized anion-specific adsorption elevates potential difference between cathodes and IHP, accelerating charge transfer across the electrode/electrolyte interface. Furthermore, the F-rich cathode/electrolyte interphase generated from IHP avoids transition metal dissolution and surface lattice collapse for stable long-term cycling. 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