γ'-V2O5: A new high voltage cathode material for sodium-ion battery

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2017-10, Vol.252, p.4-11
• Main Authors: Safrany Renard, Marianne, Emery, Nicolas, Baddour-Hadjean, Rita, Pereira-Ramos, Jean-Pierre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; high voltage cathode; Material chemistry; Na insertion; Na-ion battery; vanadium pentoxide; γ’-V2O5
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.08.175

[Display omitted] •High voltage sodium insertion: 3.3V vs. Na+/Na into γ’-V2O5.•Electrochemical formation of γ-Na0.97V2O5.•High discharge capacity of 145mAhg−1.•Two-phases reaction for 0≤x≤0.7 and single phase region for 0.7 < x≤0.97.•Excellent capacity retention: 80mAhg−1 at C/20 over 40 cycles. A new sodium insertion compound, γ'-V2O5, is prepared by the chemical oxidation of γ-LiV2O5 phase using NO2BF4 as oxidizing agent. Nearly one Na+/γ'-V2O5 can be inserted in γ'-V2O5 involving the V5+/V4+ redox couple at a high working potential of 3.3 V vs. Na+/Na. With a maximum specific capacity of 145mAhg−1, γ'-V2O5 exhibits a high discharge rate capability with still 135mAhg−1 at C/2 and 120mAhg−1 at C. A strong kinetic limitation is nevertheless evidenced for the first charge process since a 60% efficiency at RT (C/20) is evidenced while a full Na extraction is allowed at 50°C (C/60). However, an excellent capacity retention is demonstrated whatever the temperature and C rate: At room temperature, a stable capacity of 80mAhg−1 is obtained at C/20 over 40 cycles and still 55mAhg−1 at C/5 over 70 cycles; at 50°C, a stable discharge capacity of 95mAhg−1 is available at C/10 after 70 cycles. A detailed structural study is reported from X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements. A two phases mechanism involving the γ'-V2O5/γ-Na0.7V2O5 system for 0≤x≤0.7 followed by a single phase region for 0.7< x≤0.97 is evidenced. From the second cycle, sodium insertion-extraction is shown to proceed within the zero strain γ-NaxV2O5 structure, which explains the remarkable cycling stability. These results demonstrate that γ'-V2O5 forms a new competitive cathode for sodium- ion battery.