Layered Oxides for High-Power and Durable Na Battery Applications

The urge for the worldwide development of renewable energy production has shed light on the crucial role played by energy storage devices. Among them, Li-ion batteries certainly improved our lives with their high energy density which led them to be widely used in consumer electronics, hybrid and electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage in grids. However, to guarantee the earth environment sustainability through this worldwide energetic transition, the technological answer should be based on abundant materials. In this context, Na-ion battery arises as the ideal solution, and layered oxides are potentially used for positive/negative electrode materials. Although reversible capacity of Ti-based oxides is small compared with hard carbon, quick charge is possible for Ti-based materials without the sacrifice of safety issues related to Na plating. Moreover, excellent cyclability is achieved as electrode materials.[1-3] In addition, large reversible capacity, which is competitive to layered materials used for Li-ion batteries, is obtained for Mn-based layered oxides.[4] Long-term electrode reversibility is effectively improved by avoiding Jahn-Teller distortion on electrochemical cycling. From these results, we discuss the possibility to design practical and durable sodium ion batteries with high power density.<br/><br/>References<br/>[1] Y. Tsuchiya <i>et al</i>. and N. Yabuuchi, <i>Chemistry of Materials</i>, <b>28</b>, 7066 (2016).<br/>[2] R. Umezawa <i>et al</i>. and N. Yabuuchi, <i>Chemical Communications,</i> <b>57</b>, 2756 (2021).<br/>[3] Benoît D.L. Campéon <i>et al</i>. and N. Yabuuchi, <i>submitted</i><br/>[4] T. Sato <i>et al</i>. and N. Yabuuchi, <i>Energy Material Advances</i>, <b>2021</b>, 9857563 (2021).