Many electrolyte research papers, on the surface, seem to focus on just one thing: changing a solvent molecule.

However, those that truly get published in high-level journals are rarely as simple as "I changed the molecule, so the performance is better." Rather, they demonstrate whether the authors can elevate this molecular change to a new structural concept, a new interface mechanism, and a complete, verifiable chain of theoretical calculations.

In traditional sodium-ion batteries, it is generally assumed that only Na⁺ undergoes reversible insertion/extraction within the layered cathode, while the electrolyte solvent is only responsible for coordination and transport in the liquid phase. This work, published in Nature Energy by Qi Liu's team at City University of Hong Kong, proposes a different reaction scenario: in a diglyme electrolyte, solvent molecules can reversibly insert into the layered manganese-based cathode under high voltage, altering the interlayer diffusion environment and thus enhancing Na⁺ migration and bulk redox kinetics under ultrafast charging conditions.

In the past, when working with lithium-sulfur and lithium-oxygen systems, people were more accustomed to using thermodynamic indicators such as adsorption energy, reaction energy barrier, and free energy to screen catalysts. However, what truly blocks the reaction is often not whether the first step of the reaction can occur, but rather that the accumulation of insulating solid intermediates such as Li₂S₂ and Li₂O₂ blocks electron transport, making it increasingly difficult for subsequent reactions to continue.