Tuning sodium wettability and pore tortuosity for superior sodium storage

Abundant FeS 2 with high theoretical capacity is one of the promising anode candidates in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), however, the uneven sodium deposition due to the poor interface compatibility and sluggish reaction kinetics because of the high activation barrier still plague its practical application. Herein, we synthesized the ordered porous carbon matrix wrapped FeS 2 nanoparticles (FeS 2 @OCN) with high sodium wettability and low pore tortuosity to economically enhance the interface compatibility as well as to lower the energy barrier in SIBs. The synergistic effects of low tortuosity pores and strong sodium wettability homogenize the Na + flux distribution, bring the electron dislocation via the enrichment of edge-nitrogen (Pyridinic N and Pyrrolic N), thus achieving the dendrite-free sodium deposition and dramatically enhanced reaction kinetics. Benefiting from exceptional structural/compositional/electronic merits, the resultant anode is endowed with exceptional structure stability, achieving long-term cycling stability of 451.9 mAh·g −1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A·g −1 with specific capacity retention of 92.9%. Attenuated electrode tortuosity and high sodium wettability can corporately improve the interface compatibility and attenuate the activation barrier of the FeS 2 host and beyond.