Sustainable Enhanced Sodium-Ion Storage at Subzero Temperature with LiF Integration

Though layered sodium oxide materials are identified as promising cathodes in sodium-ion batteries, biphasic P3/O3 depicts improved electrochemical performance and structural stability. Herein, a coexistent P3/O3 biphasic cathode material was synthesized with “LiF” integration, verified with X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement analysis. Furthermore, the presence of Li and F was deduced by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The biphasic P3/O3 cathode displayed an excellent capacity retention of 85% after 100 cycles (0.2C/30 mA g –1 ) at room temperature and 94% at −20 °C after 100 cycles (0.1C/15 mA g –1 ) with superior rate capability as compared to the pristine cathode. Furthermore, a full cell comprising a hard carbon anode and a biphasic cathode with 1 M NaPF 6 electrolyte displayed excellent cyclic stabilities at a wider temperature range of −20 to 50 °C (with the energy density of 151.48 Wh kg –1 ) due to the enhanced structural stability, alleviated Jahn–Teller distortions, and rapid Na + kinetics facilitating Na + motion at various temperatures in sodium-ion batteries. The detailed post-characterization studies revealed that the incorporation of LiF accounts for facile Na + kinetics, boosting the overall Na storage.