Spray drying method for high-performance phosphate-based cathode materials for Na-ion and K-ion batteries

Na-ion batteries (SIBs) and K-ion batteries (KIBs) have been considered as a promising alternative for the next generation of energy storage technologies owing to the natural abundance and the homogeneous geographic distribution of sodium and potassium on the earth crust [1]. In addition, SIBs and KIBs show comparable electrochemical performances to Li‐ion batteries (LIBs).
The electrode materials optimization plays a key role in the development of advanced rechargeable batteries. Spray-drying methods is adequate method to prepare electrode materials for Na/K-ion batteries with well controlled particles size and morphology [2]. Spray drying is a cost-effective and easily up-scalable route to prepare homogeneous multi-component powders, thus making it a suitable method to incorporate carbon in the composite powder. Indeed, it is possible to mix the precursors with conductive additives ((MWCNTs, Carbon Black, graphene etc) during the material synthesis [3-5].
In this work, we report the synthesis and the study of Na2FePO4F, Na3V2(PO4)2F3/C and K3V(PO4)2/C cathode materials for Na/K-ion batteries. The effect of the carbon sources on the structural, morphological and electrochemical properties was deeply investigated by combining different characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA-DSC, Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry. galvanostatic charge/discharge etc).
References
1- K. Kubota, M. Dahbi, T. Hosaka, S. Kumakura, and S. Komaba, Chemical Record, 18 (2018) 459–479.
2- B. Vertruyen, N. Eshraghi, C. Piffet, J. Bodart, A. Mahmoud, F. Boschini, Materials MDPI,11 (7) (2018) 1076.
3- A. Mahmoud, S. Caes, M. Brisbois, R. P. Hermann, L. Berardo, A. Schrijnemakers, C. Malherbe, G. Eppe, R. Cloots, B. Vertruyen, F. Boschini, Journal of Solid State Electrochem. 22 (2018) 103-112.
4- N. Eshraghi, S. Caes, A. Mahmoud, R. Cloots, B. Vertruyen, F. Boschin, Electrochimica Acta, 228, (2017), 319-324.
5- A. Mahmoud, C. Karegeya, M. T. Sougrati, J. Bodart, B. Vertruyen, R. Cloots, P.‐E. Lippens, F. Boschini, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 10 (2018) 34202.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to University of Liege and FRS-FNRS for grants. Part of this work was supported by the Walloon Region under the “PE PlanMarshall2.vert” program (BATWAL – 1318146).