Recent progress on the materials design towards thermally safe sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries stand out as potential candidates for large-scale energy storage systems due to the abundant resource of sodium. However, similar to lithium-ion batteries, there also exist challenges related to thermal safety in practical applications. The cathode, anode, and electrolyte of sodium-ion batteries can significantly influence the occurrence of thermal runaway events. Comprehensive understandings on the thermal behaviors of these components and their interactions are critically pivotal for unraveling the thermal runaway mechanisms of sodium-ion batteries and ensuring their safe operations. This review, pivoting on the origins and solutions for thermal runaway of sodium-ion batteries, summarizes and discusses the recent progress on thermal stability characteristics of the cathode, anode, and electrolyte. Some strategies are suggested to potentially enhance safety performance. The review aims to offer valuable insights for a more profound exploration of the thermal runaway mechanisms and inform the design of safe sodium-ion batteries.