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Published on: November 11, 2013
MXene-enabled chemomechanical interface toward stable high-voltage O3-type cathodes for sodium-ion batteries
Tianhao Chen1, Shihao Yin1,2, Yuhang Meng1,2
1National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures (NLSSM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Provincial Laboratory for Nanotechnology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. wangxb@nju.edu.cn.
A new MXene buffering layer enhances sodium-ion battery cathodes by reducing structural strain and stabilizing the interface. This improves high-voltage cyclability, crucial for grid-scale energy storage solutions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- O3-type layered sodium cathode materials are vital for grid-scale energy storage due to their high theoretical capacities.
- These materials, like NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2, face challenges with structural degradation and interphase deterioration during deep cycling at high voltages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a strategy to mitigate structural degradation and interfacial instability in high-voltage O3-type sodium cathodes.
- To enhance the cyclability and overall performance of sodium-ion batteries for energy storage applications.
Main Methods:
- Conformal MXene buffering layer coating on the cathode surface.
- In situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) for lattice analysis during cycling.
- Distribution of relaxation times analysis to assess diffusion resistance.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for interface energetics.
Main Results:
- The MXene layer effectively mitigates lattice strain accumulation and passivates the cathode-electrolyte interphase.
- Highly reversible lattice restoration and suppressed solid-phase diffusion resistance were observed during cycling.
- MXene coating weakened the adsorption of PF5 byproducts, reducing electrolyte decomposition.
- The modified cathode retained 60% capacity after 300 cycles at 4.2 V, significantly outperforming the bare cathode (13% retention).
Conclusions:
- A chemomechanical interface using MXene is a viable strategy to enhance the structural and interfacial stability of high-voltage O3-type sodium cathodes.
- This approach offers a pathway to improve the performance and longevity of sodium-ion batteries for demanding energy storage applications.
