Bifunctional hybrid anodes (BHAs), which are both a high‐performance active host material for lithium‐ion storage as well as a guiding agent for homogeneous lithium metal nucleation and growth, exhibit significant potential as anodes for next‐generation high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, sulfur‐doped hard carbon nanosphere assemblies (S‐HCNAs) were prepared through a hydrothermal treatment of a liquid organic precursor, followed by high‐temperature thermal annealing with elemental sulfur for application as BHAs for LIBs. In a carbonate‐based electrolyte containing fluoroethylene carbonate additive, the S‐HCNAs showed high lithium‐ion storage capacities in sloping as well as plateau voltage sections, good rate capabilities, and stable cyclabilities. In addition, high average Coulombic efficiencies (CEs) of ~96.9% were achieved for dual lithium‐ion and lithium metal storage cycles. In the LIB full‐cell tests with typical NCM811 cathodes, the S‐HCNA‐based BHAs containing ~400 mA h g⁻¹ of excess lithium led to high energy and power densities of ~500 W h kg⁻¹ and ~1695 W kg⁻¹, respectively, and a stable cycling performance with ~100% CEs was achieved.

As the market for electric vehicles and portable electronic devices continues to grow rapidly, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as energy storage systems to replace lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, sodium-ion is heavier and larger than lithium-ion, resulting in volume expansion and slower ion transfer. It is necessary to find suitable anode materials with high capacity and stability. In addition, wearable electronics are starting to be commercialized, requiring a binder-free electrode used in flexible batteries. In this work, we synthesized nano flake-like VSe₂ using organic precursor and combined it with MWCNT as carbonaceous material. VSe₂@MWCNT was mixed homogenously using sonication and fabricated film electrodes without a binder and substrate via vacuum filter. The hybrid electrode exhibited high-rate capability and stable cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 469.1 mAhg⁻¹ after 200 cycles. Furthermore, VSe₂@MWCNT exhibited coulombic efficiency of ~99.7%, indicating good cycle stability. Additionally, VSe₂@MWCNT showed a predominant 85.5% of capacitive contribution at a scan rate of 1 mVs⁻¹ in sodiation/desodiation process. These results showed that VSe₂@MWCNT is a suitable anode material for flexible SIBs.

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have drawn interest as a lithium ion battery (LIB) alternative owing to their low price and low deposits. To commercialize SIBs similar to how LIBs already have been, it is necessary to develop improved anode materials that have high stability and capacity to operate over many and long cycles. This paper reports the development of homogeneous Sb₂S₃ nanorods (Sb₂S₃ NRs) on reduced graphene oxide (Sb₂S₃ NRs @rGO) as anode materials for SIBs. Based on this work, Sb₂S₃ NRs show a discharge capacity of 564.42 mAh/g at 100 mA/g current density after 100 cycles. In developing a composite with reduced graphene oxide, Sb₂S₃ NRs@rGO present better cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 769.05 mAh/g at the same condition. This achievement justifies the importance of developing Sb₂S₃ NRs and Sb₂S₃ NRs@rGO for SIBs.