Electrochemical performance and structure of Al2W3−xMoxO12

Abstract

The A₂M₃O₁₂ class of materials are mostly known for their negative thermal expansion properties, however, little research has been conducted in regards to their electrochemical properties. The A₂M₃O₁₂ structure consists of rigid polyhedra, featuring large structural voids which may be sufficiently large to reversibly host Li-, Na- and K-ions with minimal strain being induced during insertion/extraction. In the present work, members of the Al₂W_3−xMo_xO₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) family were synthesised, and characterised structurally and electrochemically. The Al₂W_3−xMo_xO₁₂ solid solutions adopt a monoclinic P2₁/a space-group symmetry which transforms to the orthorhombic Pnca space-group symmetry between the compositions Al₂W₂MoO₁₂ and Al₂W_2.5Mo_0.5O₁₂. The W and Mo cations appear to be randomly distributed on the 6 or 2 independent crystallographic sites in the monoclinic or orthorhombic symmetries, respectively. Discharge against Li yields a relatively high first discharge capacity of 883 mA h g⁻¹ for Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ with a reversible capacity of 136 mA h g⁻¹ by the 100th cycle which seems to be relatively insensitve to the applied currents used here. The capacities decrease with increasing W content to 654 mA h g⁻¹ for Al₂W₃O₁₂ in the first and 96 mA h g⁻¹ in the 100th discharge cycle. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ex situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction data were used to describe the change in oxidation state of Mo and the structural evolution upon discharge and indicate the formation of an amorphous or nanocrystalline phase(s) upon lithiation. Na- and K-half-cells achieved reversible discharge capacities below 28 mA h g⁻¹ while typically introducing less change in the structure. This work illustrates the influence of composition and structure on the electrochemical performance in this family of compounds.