RESUMEN
In advancing sodium-ion battery technology, we introduce a novel application of Na3NiZr(PO4)3 with a NASICON structure as an anode material. This research unveils, for the first time, its exceptional ability to maintain high specific capacity and unprecedented cycle stability under extreme current densities up to 1000 mA·g-1, within a low voltage window of 0.01-2.5 V. The core of our findings lies in the material's remarkable capacity retention and stability, which is a leap forward in addressing long-standing challenges in energy storage. Through cutting-edge in situ/operando X-ray diffraction analysis, we provide a perspective on the structural evolution of Na3NiZr(PO4)3 during operation, offering deep insights into the mechanisms that underpin its superior performance.
RESUMEN
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained considerable attention from the scientific community due to their outstanding properties, such as high energy density, low self-discharge, and environmental sustainability. Among the prominent candidates for anode materials in next-generation LIBs are the spinel ferrites, represented by the MFe2O4 series, which offer exceptional theoretical capacities, excellent reversibility, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. In the scope of this study, Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a sol-gel synthesis method and subsequently coated with a carbon layer to further enhance their electrochemical performance. TEM images confirmed the presence of the carbon coating layer on the Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4/C composite. The analysis of the measured X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4 before coating and amorphous carbon in the Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4/C after the coating. The Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4 anode material exhibited a much higher specific capacity than the traditional graphite material, with initial discharge/charge capacities of 1275 and 874 mA h g-1, respectively, at a 100 mA g-1 current density and a first coulombic efficiency of 68.54%. The long-term cycling test showed a slight capacity fading, retaining approximately 85% of its initial capacity after 75 cycles. Notably, the carbon-coating layer greatly enhanced the stability and slightly increased the capacity of the as-prepared Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4. The first discharge/charge capacities of Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4/C at 100 mA g-1 current density reached 1032 and 723 mA h g-1, respectively, and a first coulombic efficiency of 70.06%, with an increase of discharge/charge capacities to 826.6 and 806.2 mA h g-1, respectively, after 75 cycles (with a capacity retention of 89.7%), and a high-rate capability of 372 mA h g-1 at 2C. Additionally, a full cell was designed using a Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4/C anode and an NMC811 cathode. The output voltage was about 2.8 V, with a high initial specific capacity of 755 mA h g-1 at 0.125C, a high rate-capability of 448 mA h g-1 at 2C, and a high-capacity retention of 91% after 30 cycles at 2C. The carbon coating layer on Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe1.7Mn0.3O4 nanoparticles played a crucial role in the excellent electrochemical performance, providing conducting, buffering, and protective effects.
