Electrolyte solvents in sodium-ion batteries have long been regarded as passive ion-transport media, while sluggish Na+ diffusion in layered cathodes limits kinetics. Now, researchers show that reversible solvent intercalation actively enhances Na+ transport, enabling fast kinetics with preserved redox chemistry and cycling stability.
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Kang, J.K. Solvent-enabled fast kinetics. Nat Energy (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-026-01994-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-026-01994-y