Understanding the Structural Evolution and Redox Mechanism of a NaFeO2–NaCoO2 Solid Solution for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Na‐ion batteries have become promising candidates for large‐scale energy‐storage systems because of the abundant Na resources and they have attracted considerable academic interest because of their unique behavior, such as their electrochemical activity for the Fe3+/Fe4+ redox couple. The high‐rate performance derived from the low Lewis‐acidity of the Na+ ions is another advantage of Na‐ion batteries and has been demonstrated in NaFe1/2Co1/2O2 solutions. Here, a solid solution of NaFeO2‐NaCoO2 is synthesized and the mechanisms behind their excellent electrochemical performance are studied in comparison to those of their respective end‐members. The combined analysis of operando X‐ray diffraction, ex situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations for Na1– x Fe1/2Co1/2O2 reveals that the O3‐type phase transforms into a P3‐type phase coupled with Na+/vacancy ordering, which has not been observed in O3‐type NaFeO2. The substitution of Co for Fe stabilizes the P3‐type phase formed by sodium extraction and could suppress the irreversible structural change that is usually observed in O3‐type NaFeO2, resulting in a better cycle retention and higher rate performance. Although no ordering of the transition metal ions is seen in the neutron diffraction experiments, as supported by Monte‐Carlo simulations, the formation of a superlattice originating from the Na+/vacancy ordering is found by synchrotron X‐ray diffraction for Na0.5Fe1/2Co1/2O2, which may involve a potential step in the charge/discharge profiles.