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Tuning crystal structure and redox potential of NASICON-type cathodes for sodium-ion batteries

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Abstract

Sodium superionic conductor (NASICON)-type compounds have been regarded as promising cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their favorable ionic conductivity and robust structural stability. However, their high cost and relatively low energy density restrict their further practical application, which can be tailored by widening the operating voltages with earth-abundant elements such as Mn. Here, we propose a rational strategy of infusing Mn element in NASICON frameworks with sufficiently mobile sodium ions that enhances the redox voltage and ionic migration activity. The optimized structure of Na3.5Mn0.5V1.5(PO4)3/C is achieved and investigated systematically to be a durable cathode (76.6% capacity retention over 5,000 cycles at 20 C) for SIBs, which exhibits high reversible capacity (113.1 mAh·g−1 at 0.5 C) with relatively low volume change (7.6%). Importantly, its high-areal-loading and temperature-resistant sodium ion storage properties are evaluated, and the full-cell configuration is demonstrated. This work indicates that this Na3.5Mn0.5V1.5(PO4)3/C composite could be a promising cathode candidate for SIBs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51872334 and 51932011), and the Innovation-Driven Project of Central South University (No. 2020CX024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Material Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Xuemei Ma, Xinxin Cao, Yifan Zhou, Shan Guo, Xiaodong Shi, Guozhao Fang, Anqiang Pan, Jiang Zhou & Shuquan Liang

  2. Key Laboratory of Electronic Packaging and Advanced Functional Materials of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Xinxin Cao, Guozhao Fang, Anqiang Pan, Jiang Zhou & Shuquan Liang

  3. School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China

    Bingan Lu

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  1. Xuemei Ma
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Correspondence to Xinxin Cao, Jiang Zhou or Shuquan Liang.

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Ma, X., Cao, X., Zhou, Y. et al. Tuning crystal structure and redox potential of NASICON-type cathodes for sodium-ion batteries. Nano Res. 13, 3330–3337 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3011-6

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