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Vol. 18 (2026)

Ultra-Sodiophilic Mixed Conductor Interphase Enabling Uniform Top Deposition for Quasi-Solid-State Sodium-Metal Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02256-y
Chunching Lu
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Guangxiang Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Yuxiang Niu
Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543, Singapore
Yupeng Zhu
Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543, Singapore
Siyuan Li
Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543, Singapore
Hua Huo
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Yulin Ma
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Pengjian Zuo
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Geping Yin
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Yunzhi Gao
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Liguang Wang
College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
Chuankai Fu
State Key Laboratory of Space Power‑Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Wei Chen
Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543, Singapore

Corresponding Author: Wei Chen

phycw@nus.edu.sg

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 417

Abstract

Artificial solid electrolyte interphase offers a promising route to improve the lifespan and safety of quasi-solid-state sodium-metal batteries (QSMBs), yet its limited ion conductivity and the low liquidity of the polymer electrolyte often result in unstable Na plating/stripping kinetics and poor interfacial durability. Herein, we propose a surface-induced “top” Na deposition mechanism facilitated by an ultra-sodiophilic ionic/electronic mixed conductor interphase exhibiting strong Na+ adsorption affinity, which ensures fast and dendrite-free Na anode operation. The embedded Na3Sb alloy phase, featuring high electronic conductivity and strong Na+ adsorption energy, significantly accelerates interfacial ion diffusion and nucleation kinetics, forming a smooth and compact Na deposition layer that facilitates stable solid electrolyte interphase formation and preserves interfacial integrity. Consequently, Na||Na symmetric cells employing a 1, 3-dioxolane-based gel polymer electrolyte deliver an ultra-long-cycling lifespan of 1000 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 with a low overpotential of 40 mV. Moreover, QSMBs incorporating the modified Na anode and Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode demonstrate outstanding cycling stability (74.1% capacity retention after 9000 cycles at 2C) and superior rate capability (91.7 mAh g−1 at 5C). The work provides mechanistic insights and practical strategies for regulating Na deposition, paving the way toward high-performance QSMBs.


Highlights:
1 A surface-induced “top” Na deposition mechanism facilitated by an ultra-sodiophilic ionic/electronic mixed conductor interphase composed of NaF and Na3Sb is proposed.
2 SFC-Na anode exhibits enhanced Na+ affinity force and accelerated ion transport kinetics, Na nucleation kinetics are greatly enhanced while dendrite growth is effectively suppressed.
3 The quasi-solid-state sodium-metal batteries with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode and SFC-Na anode exhibit significantly enhanced cycling stability and superior rate capability.

Keywords

Quasi-solid-state Sodium-metal batteries Sodiophilic interphase Ionic/electronic mixed conductor layer
Lu, Chunching, Guangxiang Zhang, Yuxiang Niu, Yupeng Zhu, Siyuan Li, Hua Huo, Yulin Ma, Pengjian Zuo, Geping Yin, Yunzhi Gao, Liguang Wang, Chuankai Fu, and Wei Chen. 2026. “Ultra-Sodiophilic Mixed Conductor Interphase Enabling Uniform Top Deposition for Quasi-Solid-State Sodium-Metal Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (June):417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02256-y.
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