Solvent-Driven Transformation of Microsized Metal Particles into a Nanoporous Structure and Its Application to Ultrafast-Charging Batteries

The coalescence of metal nanoparticles in colloidal solutions is a universal and ubiquitous phenomenon. Using this behavior, a simple yet effective route is developed that enables the spontaneous transformation of microsized metals into nanoporous structures in specific electrolyte solvents. The criteria for selecting solvents and counterpart metals suitable for generating nanoporous structures are derived based on the classical theory of acid-base reactions and quantum chemistry based on density functional theory. When employing the developed method for anodes for Na-ion batteries, the anodes prepared using microsized Sn, Pb, Bi, and CuS particles store 592, 423, 383, and 546 mAh g(-1), respectively, at 10 C with cycling lifetimes of 3000-6000 cycles. This study provides fundamental framework for selecting solvents to realize low-cost anodes with large capacities, long cycling lifetimes, and excellent rate performances. Moreover, the findings can be extended to other functional materials that can exploit their large specific surface areas.