Key Findings
Scandium modification of cathodes based on NNMO chemistry dramatically enhances the capacity retention of sodium-ion batteries. In tests involving 100 charge-discharge cycles, capacity retention rose from 18.6% for undoped electrodes to 67.8% with scandium doping and 75.4% with scandium coating. Furthermore, full sodium-ion cells utilizing the scandium-coated cathode retained 91.2% of their initial capacity after 300 cycles.
Technical Details
The research team, led by Professor Shinichi Komaba and Associate Professor Shinichi Kumakura from the Department of Applied Chemistry at Tokyo University of Science, utilized two distinct mechanisms to improve the O3-NaNi1/2Mn1/2O2 electrode:
- Bulk Doping: Incorporating scandium (Sc3+) into the cathode to stabilize the battery’s bulk crystal structure.
- Surface Coating: Applying a scandium coating to suppress surface degradation.
These two strategies act as complementary methods to boost overall battery performance and lifespan.
Background and Context
Sodium-ion batteries are gaining traction as an alternative to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries due to the greater abundance of sodium, which potentially reduces the cost per kW/h of capacity. Beyond cost, SIBs may offer advantages in safety and performance in low-temperature environments.
Significance and Outlook
This research provides battery manufacturers with a method to produce longer-lived, lower-cost SIB cells. While still in early stages, SIBs are currently being commercialized for backup power applications and stationary, grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESSs), where they are most likely to compete with Li-ion technology. Additionally, the technology is expanding into electric vehicles (EVs) and portable electronics. The study was published in the journal Small under the title “Scandium doping and coating for improving O3-NaNi1/2Mn1/2O2 electrode in sodium battery.”
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