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A New Route Toward Improved Sodium Ion Batteries: A Multifunctional Fluffy Na 0.67 FePO 4 /CNT Nanocactus
Author(s) -
Huang Weifeng,
Zhou Jing,
Li Biao,
An Li,
Cui Peixin,
Xia Wei,
Song Li,
Xia Dingguo,
Chu Wangsheng,
Wu Ziyu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201402246
Subject(s) - materials science , electrode , electrolyte , electrochemistry , battery (electricity) , chemical engineering , sodium ion battery , nanorod , ion , sodium , nanotechnology , faraday efficiency , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering , metallurgy
To improve the performance of energy storage systems, the rational design of new electrode configurations is a strategic initiative. Here, we present a novel monodisperse fluffy alluaudite Na 0.67 FePO 4 , prepared by a modified solvothermal method, as promising electrode for sodium ion battery. This porous Na 0.67 FePO 4 with nanocactus‐like morphology is composed by nanorods within an open three‐dimensional structure. This unique nanocactus‐based morphology offers three important advantages when used as electrode for sodium ion battery: (i) provides an open frame structure for a large Na+ ions transport; (ii) reduces the sodium ion and electron transport path by ≈20 nm; (iii) offers a large surface area for a more efficient interface between the electrode and the electrolyte. The electrochemical investigation revealed that this fluffy Na 0.67 FePO 4 nanocactus exhibits the high discharge capacity of 138 mAh g −1 . Moreover, a battery with a Na 0.67 FePO 4 /CNT hybrid electrode delivered a discharge capacity as high as ≈143 mAh g −1 , coupled to an excellent stable cyclability (no obvious capacity fading over 50 cycles at a current rate of 5 mA g −1 ). This enhanced mechanism was studied by means of absorption measurements and ex situ XAFS characterizations. Results of the characterization of the Na 0.67 FePO 4 suggests that the outstanding performance can be associated with the unique fluffy nanocactus morphology.