Shifting trends: Exploring different polymer hosts and polyelectrolyte systems for efficient sodium-ion batteries

Batteries and electrical energy storage systems are under huge load to meet the energy demands of an exponentially growing population. Currently, most of these demands are being tackled with Lithium-Ion Batteries. Certain key issues such as high cost, low availability, and potentially hazardous effects of mining of electrode materials are related to this huge rate of commercialization of lithium-ion batteries. Sodium Ion batteries have proven themselves as the most suitable alternative to LIBs, mainly due to their global plentifulness, similar electrochemical properties, and low cost. Utilization of the polymer electrolytes further improve the stability, electrochemical performance, and application of SIBs. This review enlightens various types of polymer electrolytes and polymeric hosts that can be used as an electrolyte in SIBs with in-depth knowledge about electrochemical and electrothermal behavior of LPEs, GPEs, SPEs, and CPEs. In addition, various polymer hosts also have been discussed for application in SIBs, such as PEO, PTMC, PAN, PMMA, PVdF-HFP, PU, PVP, and Chitosan with their possible nature of the polyelectrolyte systems such as LPEs, GPEs, SPEs and CPEs. Moreover, this work also highlights the main approaches that can be used to fabricate polymer electrolytes for fast sodium ion conduction, proving to be a mind-changing perspective for the commercialization of SIBs. And finally providing an insightful pathway for future research direction in the field of polymer electrolytes for SIBs. Altogether, it is anticipated that this discussion will contribute towards answering core research challenges regarding polymer electrolytes for advanced SIBs and boosting the real-world deployment of SIBs for energy storage technologies. [Display omitted] •Qualitative assessment of SIBs privileges over LIBs.•Exploration and comparison of different polymer electrolytes.•Fabrication Strategies of PEs.•Critical analysis of efficient polymer host used in SIBs.