Designing CoHCF@FeHCF Core-Shell Structures to Enhance the Rate Performance and Cycling Stability of Sodium-Ion...

Prussian blue analogs are well suited for sodium-ion battery cathode materials due to their cheap cost and high theoretical specific capacity. Na_x CoFe(CN)₆ (CoHCF), one of the PBAs, has poor rate performance and cycling stability, while Na_x FeFe(CN)₆ (FeHCF) has better rate and cycling performance. The CoHCF@FeHCF core-shell structure is designed with CoHCF as the core material and FeHCF as the shell material to enhance the electrochemical properties. The successfully prepared core-shell structure leads to a significant improvement in the rate performance and cycling stability of the composite compared to the unmodified CoHCF. The composite sample of core-shell structure has a specific capacity of 54.8 mAh g^-1 at high magnification of 20 C (1 C = 170 mA g^-1 ). In terms of cycle stability, it has a capacity retention rate of 84.1% for 100 cycles at 1 C, and a capacity retention rate of 82.7% for 200 cycles at 5 C. Kinetic analysis shows that the composite sample with the core-shell structure has fast kinetic characteristics, and the surface capacitance occupation ratio and sodium-ion diffusion coefficient are higher than those of the unmodified CoHCF.