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Electrocatalyst-based energy storage technologies such as alkali metal–air batteries, fuel cells, and water splitting devices are the new holy grail in the next-generation energy storage landscape as they deliver higher energy densities than Li-ion/Na-ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs). The new chemistries of energy storage such as metal–air batteries under aqueous or non-aqueous conditions will complement existing LIBs/SIBs owing to the increasing requirement for batteries with high energy density in the present era. Phosphate-based polyanionic frameworks have long been known for their ability to (de)intercalate alkali metal ions. Because of their innate oxygen electrocatalytic activity, these insertion cathode materials have lately emerged as air electrodes in metal–air battery systems. In this review, the present status of phosphate-based polyanionic insertion materials for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR and OER) electrocatalysis is summarized. Factors influencing electrocatalytic activity in these materials, such as the presence of different types of alkali metal cations, transition metals, and the type of ligand/mixed anion as well as coordination around the transition metals are discussed. Finally, the development of metal–air batteries derived from phosphate-based polyanionic insertion materials as air electrodes is discussed.

In search of high energy density cathode materials, the eldfellite mineral-type NaVIII(SO4)2 compound has been theoretically predicted to be a promising cathode insertion host for sodium-ion batteries. Synergizing computational and experimental investigations, the current work introduces NaVIII(SO4)2 as a novel versatile cathode for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. Prepared by a low temperature sol–gel synthesis route, the eldfellite NaV(SO4)2 cathode exhibited an initial capacity approaching ∼79% (vs. Li+/Li) and ∼69% (vs. Na+/Na) of the theoretical capacity (1e− ≅ 101 mA h g−1) involving the V3+/V2+ redox potential centered at 2.57 V and 2.28 V, respectively. The bond valence site energy (BVSE) approach and DFT-based calculations were used to gain mechanistic insight into alkali ion migration and probe the redox center during (de)insertion of Li+/Na+ ions. Post-mortem and electrochemical titration tools revealed the occurrence of a single-phase (solid-solution) redox mechanism during reversible Li+/Na+ (de)insertion into NaVIII(SO4)2. With the multivalent vanadium redox center, eldfellite NaVIII(SO4)2 forms a new cathode insertion host for Li/Na-ion batteries with potential two-electron uptake., Title in Web of Science: Eldfellite NaV(SO4)(2) as a versatile cathode insertion host for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries

Developing earth-abundant low-cost bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is a key approach to realizing efficient energy storage and conversion. By exploring Co-based sodium battery materials, here we have unveiled nanostructured pyrophosphate Na2CoP2O7 polymorphs displaying efficient bifunctional electrocatalytic activity. While the orthorhombic polymorph (oNCPy) has superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, the triclinic polymorph (t-NCPy) delivers better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. Simply by tuning the annealing condition, these pyrophosphate polymorphs can be easily prepared at temperatures as low as 500 degrees C. The electrocatalytic activity is rooted in the Co redox center with the (100) active surface and stable structural framework as per ab initio calculations. It marks the first case of phospho-anionic systems with both polymorphs showing stable bifunctional activity with low combined overpotential (ca. similar to 0.7 V) comparable to that of reported state-of-the-art catalysts. These nanoscale cobalt pyrophosphates can be implemented in rechargeable zinc-air batteries.

Economic and efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts are pivotal in realization of rechargeable (hybrid) metal-air batteries. It is ideal to employ noble-metal free bifunctional electrocatalysts that are not selective towards oxygen evolution and reduction (OER and ORR) activities. This work unveils cobalt-based tetraphosphate K2Co(PO3)(4) as an economic bifunctional electrocatalyst acting as cathode for rechargeable hybrid sodium-air batteries. Auto combustion route led to the development of homogeneous, carbon-coated, spherical K2Co(PO3)(4) nanoparticles enabling active site exposure to incoming guest molecules (O-2, OH-). This monoclinic compound exhibited superior oxygen evolution activity with low overpotential (ca. 0.32 V) surpassing the commercial RuO2 catalyst. Tetraphosphate K2Co(PO3)(4) was successfully implemented in hybrid Na-air batteries delivering reversible cycling with roundtrip efficiency over 70%. DFT study revealed this catalytic activity stem from the most active and stable surface (001) and half-metallic nature of Co in K2Co(PO3)(4). Cobalt tetraphosphates can be harnessed to design low cost electrocatalysts for hybrid sodium-air batteries.

Kröhnkite-type Na2Fe(SO4)2·2H2O mineral is a sustainable and promising polyanionic cathode that has been experimentally found to offer a high redox potential (3.25 V vs. Na/Na+) along with fast-ion diffusion and high reversibility. Owing to the structural complexity, Na+ diffusion was assumed to occur along a convoluted channel along the b-axis. However, theoretical work related to this material still appears missing to support that statement. In this work, DFT+U calculations have been performed with the primary aim to unveil the Na+ diffusion mechanism in this material. The electronic structure and charge transfer are also envisaged to reveal evidence of Fe2+/3+ redox reaction and a vital role of structural H2O. Based on formation energies of this material with varied Na concentration, a calculated voltage profile is determined to show two voltage plateaus at 4.81 and 3.51 V, corresponding to experimental results. Nudged elastic band calculation reveals that Na+ diffusion is primarily occuring in the [01] direction with a moderate ionic mobility due to the structural distortion induced during migration, suggesting the possibility of defect-assisted diffusion. Intriguingly, the formation of small hole polarons is first observed, and could play a key role in the electronic conduction of this material., Title in WoS: Mechanistic study of Na-ion diffusion and small polaron formation in Krohnkite Na2Fe(SO4)(2)center dot 2H(2)O based cathode materials

Electrochemical energy storage has recently seen tremendous emphasis being placed on the large-scale (power) grid storage. Sodium-ion batteries are capable of achieving this goal with economic viability. In a recent breakthrough in sodium-ion battery research, the alluaudite framework (Na2Fe2(SO4)(3)) has been reported, with the highest Fe3+/Fe2+ redox potential (ca. 3.8 V, Barpanda, et al., Nat. Commun., 2014, 5, 4358). Exploring this high-voltage sodium insertion system, we report the discovery of Na2+2xCo2-x(SO4)(3) (x = 0.16) as a new member of the alluaudite class of cathode. Stabilized by low-temperature solid-state synthesis (T <= 350 degrees C),this novel Co-based compound assumes a monoclinic structure with C2/c symmetry, which undergoes antiferromagnetic ordering below 10.2 K. Isotypical to the Fe-homologue, it forms a complete family of solid-solution Na2+2x(Fe1-yCoy)(2-x)(SO4)(3) [ y = 0-1]. Ab initio DFT analysis hints at potential high voltage operation at 4.76-5.76 V (vs. Na), depending on the degree of desodiation involving a strong participation of the oxygen sub-lattice. With the development of safe organic electrolytes, Na2+2xCo2-x(SO4)(3) can work as a cathode material (similar to 5 V) for sodium-ion batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries are widely pursued as an economic alternative to lithium-ion battery technology, where Fe- and Mn-based compounds are particularly attractive owing to their elemental abundance. Pursuing phosphate-based polyanionic chemistry, recently solid-state prepared NaFe(PO3)(3) metaphosphate was unveiled as a novel potential sodium insertion material, although it was found to be electrochemically inactive. In the current work, employing energy-savvy solution combustion synthesis, NaFe2+(PO3)(3) was produced from low-cost Fe3+ precursors. Owing to the formation of nanoscale carbon-coated product, electrochemical activity was enabled in NaFe(PO3)(3) for the first time. In congruence with the first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, an Fe3+/Fe2+ redox activity centered at 2.8 V (vs Na/Na+) was observed. Further, the solid-solution metaphosphate family Na(Fe1-xMnx)(PO3)(3) (x = 0-1) was prepared for the first time. Their structure and distribution of transition metals (TM = Fe/Mn) was analyzed with synchrotron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Synergizing experimental and computational tools, NaFe(PO3)(3) metaphosphate is presented as an electrochemically active sodium insertion host material.

Sodium-ion-based batteries have evolved as excellent alternatives to their lithium-ion-based counterparts due to the abundance, uniform geographical distribution and low price of Na resources. In the pursuit of sodium chemistry, recently the alluaudite framework Na2M2(SO4)(3) has been unveiled as a high-voltage sodium insertion system. In this context, the framework of density functional theory has been applied to systematically investigate the crystal structure evolution, density of states and charge transfer with sodium ions insertion, and the corresponding average redox potential, for Na2M2(SO4)(3) (M = Fe, Mn, Co and Ni). It is shown that full removal of sodium atoms from the Fe-based device is not a favorable process due to the 8% volume shrinkage. The imaginary frequencies obtained in the phonon dispersion also reflect this instability and the possible phase transition. This high volume change has not been observed in the cases of the Co- and Ni-based compounds. This is because the redox reaction assumes a different mechanism for each of the compounds investigated. For the polyanion with Fe, the removal of sodium ions induces a charge reorganization at the Fe centers. For the Mn case, the redox process induces a charge reorganization of the Mn centers with a small participation of the oxygen atoms. The Co and Ni compounds present a distinct trend with the redox reaction occurring with a strong participation of the oxygen sublattice, resulting in a very small volume change upon desodiation. Moreover, the average deintercalation potential for each of the compounds has been computed. The implications of our findings have been discussed both from the scientific perspective and in terms of technological aspects., QC 20160504

Exploring future cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries, alluaudite class of Na2Fe2II(SO4)(3) has been recently unveiled as a 3.8 V positive insertion candidate (Barpanda et al. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 4358). It forms an Fe-based polyanionic compound delivering the highest Fe-redox potential along with excellent rate kinetics and reversibility. However, like all known SO4-based insertion materials, its synthesis is cumbersome that warrants careful processing avoiding any aqueous exposure. Here, an alternate low temperature ionothermal synthesis has been described to produce the alluaudite Na2+2xFe2-xII(SO4)(3). It marks the first demonstration of solvothermal synthesis of alluaudite Na2+2xM2-xII(SO4)(3) (M = 3d metals) family of cathodes. Unlike classical solid-state route, this solvothermal route favors sustainable synthesis of homogeneous nanostructured alluaudite products at only 300 degrees C, the lowest temperature value until date. The current work reports the synthetic aspects of pristine and modified ionothermal synthesis of Na2+2xFe2-xII(SO4)(3) having tunable size (300 nm similar to 5 mu m) and morphology. It shows antiferromagnetic ordering below 12 K. A reversible capacity in excess of 80 mAh/g was obtained with good rate kinetics and cycling stability over 50 cycles. Using a synergistic approach combining experimental and ab initio DFT analysis, the structural, magnetic, electronic, and electrochemical properties and the structural limitation to extract full capacity have been described.

Sodium-ion batteries have been extensively pursued as economic alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Investigating the polyanion chemistry, alluaudite structured Na2Fe2II(SO4)(3) has been recently discovered as a 3.8 V positive electrode material (Barpanda et al., Nature Commun., 5: 4358, 2014). Registering the highest ever Fe-III/Fe-II redox potential (vs. Na/Na+) and formidable energy density, it has opened up a new polyanion family for sodium batteries. Exploring the alluaudite family, here we report isotypical Na2+2xMn2-xII(SO4)(3) (x = 0.22) as a novel high-voltage cathode material for the first time. Following low-temperature (ca. 350 degrees C) solid-state synthesis, the structure of this new alluaudite compound has been solved adopting a monoclinic framework (s.g. C2/c) showing antiferromagnetic ordering at 3.4 K. Synergising experimental and ab initio DFT investigation, Na2+2xMn2-xII(SO4)(3) has been found to be a potential high-voltage (ca. 4.4 V) cathode material for sodium batteries.

Ceramic processes are currently used to prepare most of today's electrode materials. For energysaving reasons, there is a growing interest in electrode materials prepared via eco-efficient processes, which has led to the resurgence of low temperature hydro- and solvothermal processes. This review will highlight how some of these processes have been successfully used to prepare today's most praised electrode material: LiFePO 4. Particular attention is paid to the recently developed ionothermal synthesis process. This will be done in order to stress the versatility and richness of ionothermal synthesis, its control over particle size and shape, and the ability of ionic liquids to provide stabilization to new metastable phases. We outline the pertinent questions that should be clarified for continued advancement of the ionothermal process which opens the door to innovative inorganic synthesis and to materials which have remained hidden for a long time. © 2009 American Chemical Society.