Bhaskara Rao, Yenduri; Tavajohi, Naser; André Ohlin, Christian

DOI:

Abstract

Recently, niobium-based oxides have attracted attention as anode materials for sodium-ion battery (SIB) applications due to their rate and stability performance. However, reports on T-phase Nb2O5 anode materials for SIB applications are rare. In this work, a simple and straightforward solid-state reaction to prepare a T-Nb2O5 anode material using niobic acid, Nb2O5.nH2O, is proposed. Further, the active particles are successfully embedded in a carbon matrix derived from citric acid to enhance the electrochemical performance, with scanning electron microscopy demonstrating improved grain-to-grain contact following carbon coating. As a result, the coated sample (NC-1, mass ratio of 1:1 between niobic acid and citric acid) exhibits a high reversible capacity of 240 mA.h g-1 at a current density of 25 mA g-1, compared to the uncoated sample (178 mA.h. g-1) due to increased surface area and porosity, better grain connectivity, and a more uniform carbon distribution. In addition, the carbon-coated sample displays a high rate capability of 180 mA.h g-1 at 200 mA g-1 and also delivers good cycling stability over 100 cycles with more than 99% Coulombic efficiency. The improved electrochemical performance is attributed to the presence of additional structural defects, enhanced particle contact, large pore volume, and high initial Coulombic efficiency.

Keywords

anode materials ; carbon coatings ; electrochemistry ; niobic acids ; sodium-ion batteries ; solid-state reactions ; t-nb2o5

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