{
  "abstract": "Hard carbons are promising anodes for sodium-ion energy storage, yet the relationship between their heterogeneous microstructure and sodium transport remains poorly understood. Here, we combine machine-learning-generated hard-carbon structures with molecular dynamics simulations of explicit 1 M NaPF6 in ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate electrolyte to investigate sodium storage and transport across carbon structures with densities from 0.5 to 2.0 g cm-3. Increasing carbon density produces less accessible pore networks and greater graphitic local ordering, allowing the influence of microstructure on electrochemical response and Na+ transport to be examined systematically. Sodium uptake increases with applied potential but decreases strongly with carbon density, while electrode charging persists even in the densest structure, where Na+ uptake remains very small. Coordination analysis shows increasing interaction with the carbon framework under applied potential, while Na+ retains a partially solvated environment. Three-dimensional trajectory analysis reveals heterogeneous, predominantly tortuous transport pathways, with the more open HC-C1 structure supporting broader penetration and greater sustained displacement. Maximum penetration depth and retained displacement are not equivalent: ions can transiently reach deep regions of denser carbon structures before returning towards the electrolyte interface. Potential-of-mean-force analysis further shows that deep penetration occurs across a range of projected free-energy changes and cannot be described by a single energetic criterion. These results show that Na+ storage and transport are governed by the interplay between electrostatic driving force, electrolyte solvation, pore accessibility and confinement, highlighting carbon microstructure as a key determinant of sustained ionic penetration.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.02411",
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Carolina Cruz-Cardona"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andreea Hedes"
    },
    {
      "name": "Patrick Rowe"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anderson Arboleda-Lamus"
    },
    {
      "name": "Raul Arenal"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhenyu Guo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Heather Au"
    },
    {
      "name": "Magda M. Titirici"
    },
    {
      "name": "Celine Merlet"
    },
    {
      "name": "Carla de Tomas"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8wk9gaezjg71x.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.02411",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "8wk9gaezjg71x",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.02411",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Advancements in Battery Materials"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220438299",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.02411",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8wk9gaezjg71x.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:45Z",
      "native_id": "2610.02411",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.02411"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.mtrl-sci",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Distinguishing sodium-ion penetration and sustained transport in realistic hard carbon nanostructures",
  "title_text": "Distinguishing sodium-ion penetration and sustained transport in realistic hard carbon nanostructures",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8wk9gaezjg71x",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}