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Title: Probing microstructure and phase evolution of α-MoO3 nanobelts for sodium-ion batteries by in situ transmission electron microscopy

Journal Article · · Nano Energy
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4]
  1. Southeast University, Nanjing (China). SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of the Ministry of Education
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
  3. Southeast University, Nanjing (China). Department of Physics, Key Laboratory of MEMS of the Ministry of Education
  4. Southeast University, Nanjing (China). SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of the Ministry of Education; Joint Research Institute of Southeast University and Monash University, Suzhou (China). Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacture
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The fundamental electrochemical reaction mechanisms and the phase transformation pathways of layer-structured α-MoO3 nanobelt during the sodiation/desodiation process to date remain largely unknown. In this study, to observe the real-time sodiation/desodiaton behaviors of α-MoO3 during electrochemical cycling, we construct a MoO3 anode sodium-ion battery inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Utilizing in situ TEM and electron diffraction pattern (EDP) observation, α-MoO3 nanobelts are found to undergo a unique multi-step phase transformation. Upon the first sodiation, α-MoO3 nanobelts initially form amorphous NaxMoO3 phase and are subsequently sodiated into intermediate phase of crystalline NaMoO2, finally resulting in the crystallized Mo nanograins embedded within the Na2O matrix. During the first desodiation process, Mo nanograins are firstly re-oxidized into intermediate phase NaMoO2 that is further transformed into amorphous Na2MoO3, resulting in an irreversible phase transformation. Upon subsequent sodiation/desodiation cycles, however, a stable and reversible phase transformation between crystalline Mo and amorphous Na2MoO3 phases has been revealed. In conclusion, our work provides an in-deepth understanding of the phase transformation pathways of α-MoO3 nanobelts upon electrochemical sodiation/desodiation processes, with the hope of assistance in designing sodium-ion batteries with enhanced performance.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704; SC0012704l
OSTI ID:
1336074
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1396391
Report Number(s):
BNL-112456-2016-JA; KC0403020
Journal Information:
Nano Energy, Vol. 27, Issue C; ISSN 2211-2855
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 47 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (6)

Two-step carbon modification of NaTi2(PO4)3 with improved sodium storage performance for Na-ion batteries journal October 2018
MoO 3 nanosheet arrays as superior anode materials for Li- and Na-ion batteries journal January 2018
Review—Promises and Challenges of In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Electrochemical Techniques in the Studies of Lithium Ion Batteries journal January 2017
Hierarchical MoS 2 /MoO 3 nanotubes with excellent electrochemical performance: MoS 2 bubbles on MoO 3 nanotubes journal January 2019
Na-Ion Batteries for Large Scale Applications: A Review on Anode Materials and Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation journal July 2017
Nanostructured Conversion-Type Negative Electrode Materials for Low-Cost and High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries journal August 2018

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Sodium-ion batteries
In situ TEM
MoO3
Sodiation/desodiation
Multi-step phase transformation