Effects of the synthesis route on the structure and electrochemical performance of layered oxide cathodes for Na-ion batteries

Abstract

The synthesis route plays a critical role in determining the structural and electrochemical stability of layered oxide cathodes for sodium ion batteries. In this work, using Na_0.67Fe_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ as a model layered oxide cathode, we investigate two synthesis methods: co-precipitation and solid-state reaction, to elucidate their influence on the phase, morphology and electrochemical performance. The structural and electrochemical characterization studies reveal that the co-precipitation-derived materials exhibit superior cycling stability and higher reversible capacity compared to their solid-state counterparts. The improved performance is attributed to the formation of a fine, homogeneous morphology and high phase purity. These findings highlight the important role of the synthesis route in controlling particle morphology and phase purity toward high-performance, structurally stable sodium-ion battery cathodes.