Bridging multiscale interfaces for developing ionically conductive high-voltage iron sulfate-containing sodium-based battery positive electrodes

Abstract Non-aqueous sodium-ion batteries (SiBs) are a viable electrochemical energy storage system for grid storage. However, the practical development of SiBs is hindered mainly by the sluggish kinetics and interfacial instability of positive-electrode active materials, such as polyanion-type iron-based sulfates, at high voltage. Here, to circumvent these issues, we proposed the multiscale interface engineering of Na 2.26 Fe 1.87 (SO 4 ) 3 , where bulk heterostructure and exposed crystal plane were tuned to improve the Na-ion storage performance. Physicochemical characterizations and theoretical calculations suggested that the heterostructure of Na 6 Fe(SO 4 ) 4 phase facilitated ionic kinetics by densifying Na-ion migration channels and lowering energy barriers. The (11-2) plane of Na 2.26 Fe 1.87 (SO 4 ) 3 promoted the adsorption of the electrolyte solution ClO 4 − anions and fluoroethylene carbonate molecules, which formed an inorganic-rich Na-ion conductive interphase at the positive electrode. When tested in combination with a presodiated FeS/carbon-based negative electrode in laboratory- scale single-layer pouch cell configuration, the Na 2.26 Fe 1.87 (SO 4 ) 3 -based positive electrode enables an initial discharge capacity of about 83.9 mAh g −1 , an average cell discharge voltage of 2.35 V and a specific capacity retention of around 97% after 40 cycles at 24 mA g −1 and 25 °C.