Two-Dimensional GaN: An Excellent Electrode Material Providing Fast Ion Diffusion and High Storage Capacity for Li-Ion and Na-Ion Batteries

Identifying applicable anode materials is a significant task for Li- and Na-ion battery (LIB and NIB) technologies. We propose the GaN monolayer (2D GaN) can be a good anode candidate. The GaN monolayer manifests stable Li/Na adsorption and inherently low theoretical voltages. Most excitingly, both high storage capacity and extremely fast Li/Na diffusion can be simultaneously realized in the GaN monolayer. For Li, the storage capacity and diffusion barrier is 938 mA h g(-1) and 79 meV, respectively. And, the values for Na are 625 mA h g(-1) and 22 meV. Compared with known two-dimensional (2D) anode materials with similar scale of ion diffusion barriers, the GaN monolayer almost possesses the highest Li/Na storage capacity discovered to date. Our work suggests that the 2D GaN is a prospective anode material offering fast ion diffusion and high storage capacity.