Low-temperature aqueous chemical synthesis of O-NaFePO4 cathode materials for high performance sodium-ion batteries
摘要
Sodium-ion batteries, with abundant sodium resources and low cost, are considered promising candidates for replacing lithium-ion batteries, especially for large-scale energy storage applications. Olivine NaFePO4, as a cathode material, offers good application potential due to its relatively high theoretical capacity (154 mAh g⁻¹) and moderate working voltage. However, conventional high-temperature synthesis methods often result in the formation of Maricite-NaFePO4, which lacks efficient sodium-ion diffusion pathways, leading to poor electrochemical performance. To address this issue, this study proposes an innovative low-temperature aqueous chemical synthesis method, using sodium bisulfite (Na2SO3) as a reducing agent, to successfully prepare O-NaFePO4 with excellent electrochemical properties. Under a reaction ratio of 1:6, the synthesized O-NaFePO4 material demonstrates optimal electrochemical performance, with a discharge capacity of 133.21 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C. The discharge capacities at 0.1 C, 0.2 C, 0.5 C, 1 C, and 2 C are 133.82 mAh g⁻¹, 107.63 mAh g⁻¹, 88.30 mAh g⁻¹, 72.19 mAh g⁻¹, and 55.84 mAh g⁻¹, respectively. These results indicate that the material maintains excellent rate capability and high performance even at elevated current densities. This low-temperature approach may offer a potentially energy-efficient route for the synthesis of O-NaFePO4, and provides valuable insights into the development of high-performance sodium-ion batteries.
Graphical abstract