Evaluation of Polymetallic Phosphide Cathodes for Sodium-Air Batteries by Distribution of Relaxation Time

Sodium-oxygen batteries are emerging as a new energy storage system because of their high energy density and low cost. However, the cycling performance of the battery is not satisfying due to its insulating discharge product. Here, we synthesized metallic phosphides with gradient concentration (g-CoNiFe-P) and their uniform counterpart (CoNiFe-P) as cathode catalysts in a Na–O₂ battery. Notably, the distribution of relaxation time (DRT) was utilized to identify the rate-determining step in a Na–O₂ battery, evaluate the catalytic performance of the catalysts, and monitor the change of every single electrochemical process along the whole cycling process to study the degradation mechanism. The g-CoNiFe-P catalyst presented better initial capacity and cycling performances. The evolution of the kinetic processes resulting in battery degradation has been investigated by DRT analysis, which assists with characterizations. Our work demonstrates the application of DRT in battery diagnosis to evaluate the catalytic performance of catalysts and monitor the changes in different kinetic processes of new energy systems.