Understanding sodium battery materials using high-field solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Two novel solid-state sodium battery electrolyte materials (a polymerised ionic liquid block co-polymer and a zwitterionic plastic crystal) have been characterised by high-field NMR spectroscopy. The results allow the identification of the Na+ solvation environment, which will determine the ion transport mechanism. Additionally, solid-electrolyte interphase products formed in sodium metal batteries containing two different ionic liquid electrolytes have been studied by the same experimental method and a breakdown product of the ionic liquid anion has been tentatively identified. These results demonstrate the power of NMR to provide new insights into sodium battery materials.