Sodium-Ion Battery Containing a High-Capacity Graphitic Anode and Manufacturing Method

A rechargeable sodium-ion cell, comprising an anode, a cathode, a separator that electronically isolates the anode from the cathode, and an electrolyte in ionic contact with the anode active and the cathode, wherein the anode comprises a graphite or carbon material having expanded inter-graphene planar spaces with an inter-planar spacing d from 0.43 nm to 3.0 nm, as measured by X-ray diffraction, and the expanded inter-graphene planar spaces store sodium ions to a specific capacity no less than 150 mAh/g when the cell is in a charged state. Also provided is a method of producing such an anode and sodium-ion cell.