Engineering PapersSearch

DOE OSTI · 3013664

Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode with Dominating Copper and Oxygen Redox Chemistry

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries offer low-cost energy storage solutions for the grid and electric vehicles, leveraging the established "rocking-chair" Li-ion design and the natural abundance of sodium. However, SIBs face challenges such as relatively lower voltage and capacity than lithium-ion batteries, as well as dependence on nickel resources. Here, in this work, a new nickel-free cathode material, Na 0.75 Li 0.08 Cu 0.25 Mn 0.66 O 2 , was designed and synthesized. This material has a capacity of ~125 mAh/g and an average discharge voltage of 3.5 V. Notably, more than one-third of the capacity arises from lithium substitution of Cu (~8 mol.%) and high voltage activation to 4.6 V. Multimodal synchrotron x-ray characterization combining spectroscopy, microscopy, and scattering reveal the capacity is primarily from the redox of copper and oxygen, with a minor contribution from the manganese redox. Lithium substitution alters the phase transition mechanism from a two-phase transition in P3-Na 2/3 Cu 1/3 Mn 2/3 O 2 to a solid-solution in Na 0.75 Li 0.08 Cu 0.25 Mn 0.66 O 2 , enhancing the reversibility of this material.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Ronne, Arthur [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000175070757), Liu, Jue [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:000000024453910X), Zhang, Yiman [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)], Li, Mengya [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000295814044), Lee, Seungmin [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)], Wang, Jing [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)], Lee, Gi-Hyeok [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)], Yang, Wanli [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)] (ORCID:0000000306668063), Yang, Xiao-Qing [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000236253478), Chen-Wiegart, Yu-chen Karen [Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)] (ORCID:0000000344452159), Hu, Enyuan [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000218814534). 2026-01-07. Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode with Dominating Copper and Oxygen Redox Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c03483

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

Discover connections

Connections use source metadata and explicit phrase matches, not verified experimental comparisons.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

Heterogeneous Solid Electrolyte Interphase Interactions Dictate Interface Instability in Sodium Metal Electrodes

Sodium (Na) metal batteries have attracted recent attention due to their low cost and high abundance of Na. However, the advancement of Na metal batteries is impeded due to key challenges such as dendrite growth, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) fracture, and low Coulombic efficiency. This study examines the coupled electro‐chemo‐mechanical interactions governing the electrodeposition stability and morphological evolution at the Na/electrolyte interface. The SEI heterogeneities influence transport and reaction kinetics leading to the formation of current and stress hotspots during Na plating. Further, it is demonstrated that the heterogeneity‐induced Na metal evolution and its influence on the stress distribution critically affect the mechanical overpotential, contributing to a faster SEI failure. The analysis reveals three distinct failure mechanisms—mechanical, transport, and kinetic—that govern the onset of instabilities at the interface. Finally, a comprehensive comparative study of SEI failure in Na and lithium (Li) metal anodes illustrates that the electrochemical and mechanical characteristics of the SEI are crucial in tailoring the anode morphology and interface stability. This work delineates mechanistic stability regimes cognizant of the SEI attributes and underlying failure modes and offers important guidelines for the design of artificial SEI layers for stable Na metal electrodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE

Advancements in nanocomposites for enhancing the performance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

The benefits of nanotechnology have been realized in almost every component of lithium-ion batteries. From electrodes to electrolytes, the incorporation of nanoparticles as dopants and coatings has shown marked improvements in cell cycle life, efficiency, mechanical and thermal stabilities, and lithium-ion transport. The improvements realized depends on several factors, from processing methods, nanoparticle type, structure, and concentration, to the material into which the nanoparticulate will be incorporated. Regardless of these many factors, nanotechnology has vastly improved the performance of secondary lithium-ion batteries. Here we will highlight some of the works that demonstrate these improvements and the quantitative benefits of nanotechnology.

25 ENERGY STORAGE

2,5‐Dimercapto‐1,3,4‐Thiadiazole (DMCT)‐Based Polymers for Rechargeable Metal–Sulfur Batteries

Organosulfur materials are a sustainable alternative to the present-day layered oxide cathodes in lithium-based batteries. One such organosulfur material that was intensely explored from the 1990s to early 2010s is 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMCT). However, research interest declined as the electrode reactions with DMCT were assumed to be too sluggish to be practical. Armed with the advances in metal–sulfur batteries, we revisit DMCT-based materials in the form of poly[tetrathio-2,5-(1,3,4-thiadiazole)], referred to as pDMCT-S. With an appropriate choice of electrode design and electrolyte, pDMCT-S cathode paired with a Li-metal anode shows a capacity of 715 mA h g −1 and a Coulombic efficiency of 97.7% at a C/10 rate, thus quelling the concerns of sluggish reactions. Surprisingly, pDMCT-S shows significantly improved long-term cyclability compared to a sulfur cathode. Investigations into the origin of the stability reveals that the discharge product Li-DMCT in its mesomeric form can strongly bind to polysulfides, preventing their dissolution into the electrolyte and shuttling. This unique mechanism solves a critical problem faced by sulfur cathodes. Encouragingly, this mechanism results in a stable performance of pDMCT-S with Na-metal cells as well. In conclusion, this study opens the potential for exploring other organic materials that have inherent polysulfide sequestering capabilities, enabling long-life metal–sulfur batteries.

2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole