This project aims to develop, investigate and characterise novel, stable and cost-efficient electrodes for Na-ion battery (NIB). The key to rationalise the electrochemical performance of battery materials is to determine the ion storage host and to define the local structure and microstructural stability of the material. In parallel, the ionic transport must bereliably assessed in order to predict the rate performance of the electrode.
The systematic study proposed in this project (BLESS) starts with the synthesis of novel cathode and anode materials with improved electrical conductivity and enhanced electrochemical stability. The cathode will consist of sol-gel derived Na3V2(PO4)3/carbon nanocomposite with varying carbon content. The novel route of Pickering emulsion assisted sol-gel synthesis will ensure the homogeneity of the composite resulting in enhanced electron transport across the electrode. “One-pot” in-situ synthesis of porous tin anode embedded in a conductive carbon and stabilised in a ceramic matrix (Sn/C/SiOC) will allow to accommodate the volume changes of tin preserving its high Na-storage capacity.
The electrical and microstructural properties of the electrode materials will be analysed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), 23Na solid state MAS NMR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). The intrinsic Na-diffusion properties of the active material solely will be assessed by means of a single-particle measurement (SPM) developed within this project. The low-resistance cathode composite will allow for enhancement of the rate capability of Na-based cells. By revealing the structural changes and the ion mobility of the electrode materials, MAS NMR spectroscopy can help to deeply understand the chemistry behind the electrochemical processes and therefore improve the battery performance. Electron microscopy will allow to get insights into the structure of composite electrode materials as well as the arrangement of carbonaceous materials creating inner and outer coating of the composite.
Developing new, compatible, high capacity electrode materials for NIB in line with recognising and proposing the efficient solutions to counteract their drawbacks will be a milestone for the further development and potential application of stable sodium ion batteries.
The knowledge and experience in materials engineering and electrochemistry, as well as access to highly specialised equipment (TEM, MAS-NMR, SPM), is required for the successful realisation of the planned studies within BLESS. Here, we combine the expertises of the German partner (TUDa) in the field of materials synthesis and engineering related to novel and stable Sn/C/SiOC anode material for NIB with the experience of two Polish teams in material synthesis and analytical electrochemistry focussed on novel composite Na3V2(PO4)3/C cathode for NIB and charge transfer characterisation (Gdansk University of Technology) as well as in the field of determination of Na-storage host and microstructural stability (Nikolaus Copernicus University, Torun). The proposed cooperation generates enormous benefits for the partners, and none of the teams can alone achieve the project objectives.