Transition Metal Nitrides in Lithium‐ and Sodium‐Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Perspectives

Abstract The ever‐growing market of energy storage devices in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and smart grids has attracted extensive investigation on lithium‐ and sodium‐ion batteries in the past few years. Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are currently the most commercially used energy storage devices in various occasions, while sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are expected to complement LIBs in large‐scale applications. To meet the rapid increase on the energy density of batteries, it is imperative to explore new electrode materials for rechargeable LIBs and SIBs. In the past few years, transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have been considered as promising anode materials for both LIBs and SIBs due to their much higher electronic conductivity and relatively lower conversion reaction potential. Moreover, TMNs are also the optimum compositing materials to enhance the performance of general anode material. In this paper, the design approach, synthesis routine, and the latest advances in the development of TMNs and TMN‐based hybrid materials served as anode for LIBs or SIBs are summarized. Also, challenges and perspectives in the future of TMNs‐related materials are also discussed.