A Novel NASICON‐Type Na ₄ MnCr(PO ₄ ) ₃ Demonstrating the Energy Density Record of Phosphate Cathodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Journal Article · 08 February 2020 · Advanced Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201906348 · OSTI ID:1598711

Zhang, Jian ^[1]; Liu, Yongchang  ^[2]; Zhao, Xudong ^[3]; He, Lunhua ^[4]; Liu, Hui ^[1]; Song, Yuzhu ^[1]; Sun, Shengdong ^[1]; Li, Qiang ^[1]; Xing, Xianran  ^[1]; Chen, Jun  ^[1]

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1. Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering Department of Physical Chemistry University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 China
2. Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering Department of Physical Chemistry University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 China, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 China
3. Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 China
4. Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China

Abstract Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted incremental attention as a promising candidate for grid‐scale energy‐storage applications. To meet practical requirements, searching for new cathode materials with high energy density is of great importance. Herein, a novel Na superionic conductor (NASICON)‐type Na ₄ MnCr(PO ₄ ) ₃ is developed as a high‐energy cathode for SIBs. The Na ₄ MnCr(PO ₄ ) ₃ nanoparticles homogeneously embedded in a carbon matrix can present an extraordinary reversible capacity of 160.5 mA h g ⁻¹ with three‐electron reaction at ≈3.53 V during the Na ⁺ extraction/insertion process, realizing an unprecedentedly high energy density of 566.5 Wh kg ⁻¹ in the phosphate cathodes for SIBs. It is intriguing to reveal the underlying mechanism of the unique Mn ²⁺ /Mn ³⁺ , Mn ³⁺ /Mn ⁴⁺ , and Cr ³⁺ /Cr ⁴⁺ redox couples via X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy. The whole electrochemical reaction undergoes highly reversible single‐phase and biphasic transitions with a moderate volume change of 7.7% through in situ X‐ray diffraction and ex situ high‐energy synchrotron X‐ray diffraction. Combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, the superior performance is ascribed to the low ionic‐migration energy barrier and desirable Na‐ion diffusion kinetics. The present work can offer a new insight into the design of multielectron‐reaction cathode materials for SIBs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: NONE; AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1598711
• Journal Information: Advanced Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Materials Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 32; ISSN 0935-9648
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English