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Despite being a compelling alternative to the existing lithium-ion battery technology, the unavailability of cathodes with high energy density and capacity poses a key challenge toward the wider adaption of sodium-ion batteries (NIB). In this regard, iron-rich NASICONs have triggered significant attention owing to a greater abundance of Fe and higher operating voltages of Fe2+/Fe3+ redox-couple. A major roadblock in such cathodes stems from the voltage hysteresis at higher current rates. Herein, a NASICON-type NaFe2-xInx(PO4)(MoO4)2 (NFIPM) cathode is reported that shows a stable single-phase solid-solution reaction with significantly attenuated overpotential. Indium is strategically incorporated at the iron sites, expanding the lattice space to facilitate enhanced sodium-ion diffusion and also reducing the energy bandgap of NFIPM. Magnetic susceptibility (M-T) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) measurements reveal an increased spin state of iron following indium substitution. First principle calculations also confirm the lowering of the Na+ migration energy barrier post indium doping. The optimized NFIPM10 shows a specific capacity of 111.85 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C with remarkable cycling stability of up to 800 cycles at 2C. In situ X-ray diffraction confirms reversible structural stability of NFIPM during (de)sodiation, emphasizing the role of strategic doping in enhancing sodium-ion storage.
Pinjari et al. (Tue,) studied this question.