Fabrication of Na0.7MnO2/C composite cathode material by simple heat treatment for high-power na-ion batteries

Abstract

A Na0.7MnO2/C composite cathode material is synthesized by simple and costeffective two-step heat treatment for an improvement in the rate capability of Na0.7MnO2. The first heat treatment is to synthesize Na0.7MnO2, and the second one is a low temperature annealing at 350 A degrees C for 1 h in air, which is necessary to suppress an interfacial reaction between the Na0.7MnO2 and C in the synthesis process of Na0.7MnO2/C composite. Structural analyses by XRD and XPS reveal that the Na0.7MnO2/C shows the same structural properties as that of the pristine Na0.7MnO2, and hence they exhibit the same initial discharge capacity of 175 mAh g(-1) at 20 mA g(-1). At a current density of 400 mA g(-1), the discharge capacity of Na0.7MnO2 reduces to 50 mAh g(-1) (28% of the initial discharge capacity), whereas that of Na0.7MnO2/C reduces to 108 mAh g(-1) (61% of the initial discharge capacity). The enhanced rate capability of the Na0.7MnO2/C is attributed to the conductive carbon layer formed on the surface of Na0.7MnO2 particles, enabling the facile transport of electrons from the current collector to the surface of the Na0.7MnO2 particles.