Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been deemed to be a
promising
energy storage technology in terms of cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
However, the electrodes often operate at potentials beyond their thermodynamic
equilibrium, thus requiring the formation of interphases for kinetic
stabilization. The interfaces of the anode such as typical hard carbons
and sodium metals are particularly unstable because of its much lower
chemical potential than the electrolyte. This creates more severe
challenges for both anode and cathode interfaces when building anode-free
cells to achieve higher energy densities. Manipulating the desolvation
process through the nanoconfining strategy has been emphasized as
an effective strategy to stabilize the interface and has attracted
widespread attention. This Outlook provides a comprehensive understanding
about the nanopore-based solvation structure regulation strategy and
its role in building practical SIBs and anode-free batteries. Finally,
guidelines for the design of better electrolytes and suggestions for
constructing stable interphases are proposed from the perspective
of desolvation or predesolvation.