Sodium Superionic Conductors(NASICONs)as Cathode Materials for Sodium‑Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have developed rapidly owing to the high natural abundance,wide distribution,and low cost of sodium.Among the various materials used in SIBs,sodium superion conductor(NASICON)-based electrode materials with remarkable structural stability and high ionic conductivity are one of the most promising candidates for sodium storage electrodes.Nevertheless,the relatively low electronic conductivity of these materials makes them display poor electrochemical performance,significantly limiting their practical application.In recent years,the strategies of enhancing the inherent conductivity of NASICON-based cathode materials have been extensively studied through coating the active material with a conductive carbon layer,reducing the size of the cathode material,combining the cathode material with various carbon materials,and doping elements in the bulk phase.In this paper,we review the recent progress in the development of NASICON-based cathode materials for SIBs in terms of their synthesis,characterization,functional mechanisms,and performance validation/optimization.The advantages and disadvantages of such SIB cathode materials are analyzed,and the relationship between electrode structures and electrochemical performance as well as the strategies for enhancing their electrical conductivity and structural stability is highlighted.Some technical challenges of NASICON-based cathode materials with respect to SIB performance are analyzed,and several future research directions are also proposed for overcoming the challenges toward practical applications.

Tuning crystal structure and redox potential of NASICON-type cathodes for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium superionic conductor(NASICON)-type compounds have been regarded as promising cathodes for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to their favorable ionic conductivity and robust structural stability.However,their high cost and relatively low energy density restrict their further practical application,which can be tailored by widening the operating voltages with earth-abundant elements such as Mn.Here,we propose a rational strategy of infusing Mn element in NASICON frameworks with sufficiently mobile sodium ions that enhances the redox voltage and ionic migration activity.The optimized structure of Na3.5Mn0.5V1.5(PO4)3/C is achieved and investigated systematically to be a durable cathode(76.6%capacity retention over 5,000 cycles at 20 C)for SIBs,which exhibits high reversible capacity(113.1 mAh·g^−1 at 0.5 C)with relatively low volume change(7.6%).Importantly,its high-areal-loading and temperature-resistant sodium ion storage properties are evaluated,and the full-cell configuration is demonstrated.This work indicates that this Na3.5Mn0.5V1.5(PO4)3/C composite could be a promising cathode candidate for SIBs.

Ultra-stable carbon-coated sodium vanadium phosphate as cathode material for sodium-ion battery

Based on the excellent sodium ion mobility of sodium superionic conductor structures,Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)materials have become promising cathode materials in sodium-ion batteries(SIBs).However,inadequate electronic transport of Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)limits the cycling stability and rate performances in SIBs.In this work,high-performance conductive carbon-coated Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)materials are obtained via a simple and facile ball-milling assisted solid-state method by utilizing citric acid as carbon sources.The carbon-coated composite electrodes display a high initial specific capacity of 111.6 mAh·g^(-1),and the specific capacity could retention reach 92.83%after 100 cycles at 1C with the high coulombic efficiency(99.95%).More importantly,the capacity of conductive carbon-coated nano-sized Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)can remain 48.5 mAh·g^(-1) at 10℃after 3000 cycles(initial capacity of 101.2 mAh·g^(-1)).At the same time,high coulombic efficiency(near 100%)has little decay even at a high rate of 20℃during 1000 cycles,demonstrating the excellent cycling stability and remarkable rate performances,and showing potential in largescale productions and applications.

Enhanced room-temperature Na^(+) ionic conductivity in Na_(4.92)Y_(0.92)Zr_(0.08)Si_(4)O_(12)

Developing cost-effective and reliable solid-state sodium batteries with superior performance is crucial for stationary energy storage.A key component in facilitating their application is a solid-state electrolyte with high conductivity and stability.Herein,we employed aliovalent cation substitution to enhance ionic conductivity while preserving the crystal structure.Optimized substitution of Y^(3+)with Zr^(4+)in Na_(5)YSi_(4)O_(12) introduced Naþion vacancies,resulting in high bulk and total conductivities of up to 6.5 and 3.3 mS cm^(-1),respectively,at room temperature with the composition Na_(4.92)Y_(0.92)Zr_(0.08)Si_(4)O_(12)(NYZS).NYZS shows exceptional electrochemical stability(up to 10 V vs.Naþ/Na),favorable interfacial compatibility with Na,and an excellent critical current density of 2.4 mA cm^(-2).The enhanced conductivity of Naþions in NYZS was elucidated using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and theoretical simulations,revealing two migration routes facilitated by the synergistic effect of increased Naþion vacancies and improved chemical environment due to Zr^(4+)substitution.NYZS extends the list of suitable solid-state electrolytes and enables the facile synthesis of stable,low-cost Naþion silicate electrolytes.