Bismuth-doping boosting Na⁺ diffusion kinetics of layered oxide cathode with radially oriented {010} active lattice...

O3-type layered oxide cathodes (NaTMO₂) for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted significant attention as one of the most promising potential candidates for practical energy storage applications. The poor Na⁺ diffusion kinetics is, however, one of the major obstacles to advancing large-scale practical application. Herein, we report bismuth-doped O3-NaNi_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ (NMB) microspheres consisting of unique primary nanoplatelets with the radially oriented {010} active lattice facets. The NMB combines the advantages of the oriented and exposed electrochemical active planes for direct paths of Na⁺ diffusion, and the thick primary nanoplatelets for less surface parasitic reactions with the electrolyte. Consequently, the NMB cathode exhibits a long-term stability with an excellent capacity retention of 72.5% at 1C after 300 cycles and an enhanced rate capability at a 0.1C to 10C rate (1C = 240 mA g^-1). Furthermore, the enhancement is elucidated by the small volume change, thin cathode-electrolyte-interphase (CEI) layer, and rapid Na⁺ diffusion kinetics. In particular, the radial orientation-based Bi-doping strategy is demonstrated to be effective at boosting electrochemical performance in other layered oxides (such as Bi-doped NaNi_0.45Mn_0.45Ti_0.1O₂ and NaNi_1/3Fe_1/3Mn_1/3O₂). The results provide a promising strategy of utilizing the advantages of the oriented active facets of primary platelets and secondary particles to develop high-rate layered oxide cathodes for SIBs.