Materials based on group IVA elements for alloying-type sodium storage

There are five elements in group IVA of the periodic table, i.e., carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn) and lead (Pb), of which Si, Ge, and Sn can be used as alloying-type electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Pb is also capable of alloying with sodium, but it is generally ruled out as the cause of toxicity. In recent years, materials based on Si, Ge, and Sn have been intensively exploited as sodium anodes because of their abundant resource and large capacity with reasonable working voltages. However, successful deployment of these anode materials needs to overcome kinetic and thermodynamic issues related to poor electrochemical activity, particle pulverization associated with large volume swelling, and formation of unstable solid-electrolyte interphase. A diversity of material strategies has been employed to address these difficulties, mainly leveraging on the knowledge recently advanced for lithium anodes. This review highlights such issues and provides valuable insights for possible solutions, which serves as a guide and inspiration for future material innovation for rechargeable batteries.