Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) represent a potential alternative to lithium‐ion batteries in large‐scale energy storage applications. To improve the sustainability of SIBs, the utilization of anode carbonaceous materials produced from biomass and the selection of a bio‐based binder allowing an aqueous electrode processing are fundamental. Herein, corncobs are used as raw material for the preparation of hard carbon and it is also used as cellulose sources for the synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder. The corncob‐derived electrodes deliver a high discharge capacity of around 264 mAhg⁻¹ at 1 C (300 mAg⁻¹), with promising capacity retention (84 % after 100 cycles) and good rate capability. Additionally, this work expands the fundamental insight of the sodium storage behavior of Hard Carbons through an electrochemical approach, suggesting that the reaction mechanism is controlled by capacitive process in the sloping voltage region, while the diffusion‐controlled intercalation is the predominant process in the low‐voltage plateau.

There is an enormous drive for moving toward cathode material research in LIBs due to the proposal of zero-emission electric vehicles together with the restriction of cathode materials in design. LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO) attracts great research interests as high-voltage Co-free cathodes in LIBs. However, a more extensive study is required for LNMO due to its poor electrochemical performance, especially at high temperature, because of the instability of the LNMO interface. Herein, we design structural modifications using Mg and Zr to alleviate the above-mentioned drawbacks by limiting Mn dissolution and tailoring interstitial sites (which are shown by structural and electrochemical characterizations). This strategy enhances the cycle life up to 1000 cycles at both 25 and 50 °C. In addition, a thorough characterization by impedance spectroscopy is applied to give an insight into the electronic and ionic transport properties and the intricate phase transitions occurring upon oxidation and reduction.

Li-ion batteries (LIBs) represent the most sophisticated electrochemical energy storage technology. Nevertheless, they still suffer from safety issues and practical drawbacks related to the use of toxic and flammable liquid electrolytes. Thus, polymer-based solid electrolytes may be a suitable option to fulfill the safety and energy density requirements, even though the lack of high ionic conductivity at 25 °C (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹) hinders their performance. To overcome these drawbacks, herein, we present an all-solid-state Li-metal full cell based on a three-component solid poly(ethylene oxide)/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide/titanium dioxide composite electrolyte that outclasses the conventional poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid electrolytes. Moreover, the cell features are enhanced by the combination of the solid electrolyte with a self-standing LiFePO₄ catholyte fabricated through an innovative, simple and easily scalable approach. The structural, morphological and compositional properties of this system are characterized, and the results show that the electrochemical performance of the solid composite electrolyte can be considerably improved by tuning the concentration and morphology of TiO₂. Additionally, tests performed with the self-standing LiFePO₄ catholyte underline a good cyclability of the system, thus confirming the beneficial effects provided by the novel manufacturing path used for the preparation of self-standing electrodes.

Hard carbon (HC) has significant potential as anode material for both Li‐ion and Na‐ion batteries; however, its commercialization is hindered by challenges such as poor rate capability and low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). Although polymeric binders constitute a small fraction of the overall electrode composition, they play a crucial role in influencing the electrochemical performance. Here, this study introduces a novel dual composite binder, combining polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The interaction between the COOH groups in PAA and the OH groups in PVB via hydrogen bonding prompts a cohesive polymer network resulting in electrodes exhibiting superior rate capability and high ICE in both Li‐ion and Na‐ion laboratory‐scale cells, surpassing the performance of those with other binders tested. After optimizing the formulations by using commercial PVB, we demonstrate for the first time the use of recycled PVB, sourced from laminated glass waste, to address the lack of end‐of‐life programs for this material, which often ends up in landfills. Repurposing PVB waste for battery applications tackles waste management issues and contributes to innovative development of advanced, green battery materials in a circular economy approach, thus paving the way for novel waste‐to‐energy solutions combining high‐performance with socio‐economical and environmental benefits.

In this work, sustainable Li‐based battery separators are prepared starting from a waste material from the glass industry, viz . polyvinyl butyral (PVB) widely used as a sacrificial interlayer in high impact‐resistant windows. First, polymeric membranes are prepared via the phase‐inversion method using commercial PVB as the backbone and 4,4′‐methylenebis(cyclohexylisocyanate) as a crosslinking agent. They are characterized from a physicochemical viewpoint by thermomechanical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, and are successfully tested as separators in Li‐metal cells with LP30 electrolyte. Electrical and electrochemical properties are evaluated by impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic cycling, providing comparable results with commercial Celgard 25 µm monolayer microporous polypropylene separator. As a proof‐of‐concept, for the first time, recycled PVB‐based polymer membranes from wasted car glasses are prepared, adjusting the synthesis protocol to account for the presence of plasticizers and contaminants. They show a dense elastomeric appearance and proved to be compatible with Li metal and stable upon 600 h of Li plating/stripping. The electrochemical window is compatible with the LiFePO ₄ cathode, as demonstrated by prolonged galvanostatic cycling (250 cycles) in laboratory‐scale cells. Preliminary results are highly encouraging and pave the way to developing novel separators for safe, low‐cost, and sustainable energy storage devices.