Understanding the Correlation between Electrochemical Performance and Operating Mechanism of a Co-free Layered-Spinel Composite Cathode for Na-Ion Batteries.

Compositing different crystal structures of layered transition metal oxides (LTMOs) is an emerging strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of LTMOs in sodium-ion batteries. Herein, a cobalt-free P2/P3-layered spinel composite, P2/P3-LS-Na1/2Mn2/3Ni1/6Fe1/6O2 (LS-NMNF), is synthesized, and the synergistic effects from the P2/P3 and spinel phases were investigated. The material delivers an initial discharge capacity of 143 mAh g-1 in the voltage range of 1.5-4.0 V and displays a capacity retention of 73% at the 50th cycle. The material shows a discharge capacity of 72 mAh g-1 at 5C. This superior rate performance by the material could be by virtue of the increased electronic conductivity contribution of the incorporated spinel phase. The charge compensation mechanism of the material is investigated by in operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (in a voltage range of 1.5-4.5 V vs Na+/Na), which revealed the contribution of all transition metals toward the generated capacity. The crystal structure evolution of each phase during electrochemical cycling was analyzed by in operando X-ray diffraction. Unlike in the case of many reported P2/P3 composite cathode materials and spinel-incorporated cobalt-containing P2/P3 composites, the formation of a P'2 phase at the end of discharge is absent here.

Unveiling the Electrochemical Mechanism of High-Capacity Negative Electrode Model-System BiFeO3 in Sodium-Ion Batteries: An In Operando XAS Investigation.

Careful development and optimization of negative electrode (anode) materials for Na-ion batteries (SIBs) are essential, for their widespread applications requiring a long-term cycling stability. BiFeO3 (BFO) with a LiNbO3-type structure (space group R3c) is an ideal negative electrode model system as it delivers a high specific capacity (770 mAh g-1), which is proposed through a conversion and alloying mechanism. In this work, BFO is synthesized via a sol-gel method and investigated as a conversion-type anode model-system for sodium-ion half-cells. As there is a difference in the first and second cycle profiles in the cyclic voltammogram, the operating mechanism of charge-discharge is elucidated using in operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In the first discharge, Bi is found to contribute toward the electrochemical activity through a conversion mechanism (Bi3+ → Bi0), followed by the formation of Na-Bi intermetallic compounds. Evidence for involvement of Fe in the charge storage mechanism through conversion of the oxide (Fe3+) form to metallic Fe and back during discharging/charging is also obtained, which is absent in previous literature reports. Reversible dealloying and subsequent oxidation of Bi and oxidation of Fe are observed in the following charge cycle. In the second discharge cycle, a reduction of Bi and Fe oxides is observed. Changes in the oxidation states of Bi and Fe, and the local coordination changes during electrochemical cycling are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the optimization of cycling stability of BFO is carried out by varying binders and electrolyte compositions. Based on that, electrodes prepared with the Na-carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder are chosen for optimization of the electrolyte composition. BFO-CMC electrodes exhibit the best electrochemical performance in electrolytes containing fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as the additive. BFO-CMC electrodes deliver initial capacity values of 635 and 453 mAh g-1 in the Na-insertion (discharge) and deinsertion (charge) processes, respectively, in the electrolyte composition of 1 M NaPF6 in EC/DEC (1:1, v/v) with a 2% FEC additive. The capacity values stabilize around 10th cycle and capacity retention of 73% is observed after 60 cycles with respect to the 10th cycle charge capacity.

Steric and electric field driven distortions in aromatic molecules: spontaneous and non-spontaneous symmetry breaking.

The structures of molecules form the cornerstone of our chemical knowledge. Lowering of symmetry in closed-shell molecules is often attributed to the Pseudo Jahn-Teller (PJT) distortions wherein non-adiabatic coupling (NAC) between the ground state and excited states creates vibrational instability along specific normal modes. Nevertheless, other factors like steric interactions are also well known in the literature to induce structural distortions. In this article, we consider two specific cases of molecular distortions - the first one being spontaneous for contorted polyaromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAH) where non-bonded repulsions between the two pairs of syn H-atoms in tribenzopyrene, TBP (1), can enforce either a C2v → C2 or C2v → Cs distortion. PJT-effects account for the correct preference of the Cs structure over C2 (by 4.6 kcal mol-1). The second case (non-spontaneous symmetry breaking) is that of benzene (2) and coronene (3) which upon application of sufficiently strong static external electric field develop vibrational instability along q(a2u) to cause D6h → C6v and D6h → C2 distortions for 2 and 3 respectively. An external electric field (FZ) was applied parallel to the aromatic ring of 2-3 for investigation of non-spontaneous symmetry breaking. Such electric field induced structural distortion is understood on the basis of excess charge accumulation of the planar rings which is circumvented by symmetry lowering. PJT effects seem to have significant consequences for identification of global minima amongst several local minimal molecular structures.