sc7b02355_si_001.pdf (771.96 kB)
A Polymer-Infused Solid-State Synthesis of a Long Cycle-Life Na3V2(PO4)3/C Composite
journal contribution
posted on 2017-08-08, 00:00 authored by Xi Jiang, Tianran Zhang, Jim Yang LeeThe
cost of large-scale battery-based energy storage systems can
be substantially reduced by using long cycle-life active battery materials
which can be easily synthesized. This paper describes the synthesis
of a sodium vanadium phosphate (Na3V2(PO4)3, NVP)/carbon composite as the sodium ion battery
(NIB) cathode material by a facile solid-state method which can increase
the cost competitiveness of NIBs relative to the lithium ion batteries
(LIBs). The NVP synthesized as such features NVP particles tethering
to a cellular carbon network formed in situ by the
carbonization of a low melting polymer percolating the NVP particles.
The immobilization of the NVP particles can better preserve their
electrical integration within the electrode, the loss of which is
conjectured to be the major cause of capacity loss. The hypothesis
was validated by performance comparison with a conventional carbon-coated
NVP/C composite with the same initial discharge capacity but which
showed a more severe capacity fading in extended cycling. This study
presents not only a new strategy to extend the cycle life of cathode
materials but also a cost-effective way to produce them.