Executive Summary : | The development and commercialization of sodium-ion batteries (sIBs) with high charging and discharge rates is crucial. Carbon-based anodes have been used by companies like Natron Energy, NGK Insulators Ltd, and Aradion Limited, but they face challenges in Na intercalation, resulting in lower energy densities and less stable voltage profiles. To address these issues, hard carbons with nanopores have emerged as promising alternatives for sodium storage, offering flat-voltage plateaus and tunable capacity. studies on hard carbons synthesized at high temperatures for sIB applications have shown encouraging voltage versus capacity profiles. However, understanding the fundamental surface electrochemistry of porous carbon systems in the context of Na ion insertion is essential. Further structural manipulation using doping strategies is needed to optimize the pore structure for efficient Na ion diffusion in sIBs. This research proposal aims to comprehensively analyze the structural characteristics of doped hard carbons using a combined experimental and theoretical approach to understand sodium ion storage behavior in these materials. |