Lithium-Rich Layered Oxide Li1.18 Ni0.15 Co0.15 Mn0.52 O2 as the Cathode Material for Hybrid Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Li-rich layered oxide Li1.18 Ni0.15 Co0.15 Mn0.52 O2 (LNCM) is, for the first time, examined as the positive electrode for hybrid sodium-ion battery and its Na(+) storage properties are comprehensively studied in terms of galvanostatic charge-discharge curves, cyclic voltammetry and rate capability. LNCM in the proposed sodium-ion battery demonstrates good rate capability whose discharge capacity reaches about 90 mA h g(-1) at 10 C rate and excellent cycle stability with specific capacity of about 105 mA h g(-1) for 200 cycles at 5 C rate. Moreover, ex situ ICP-OES suggests interesting mixed-ions migration processes: In the initial two cycles, only Li(+) can intercalate into the LNCM cathode, whereas both Li(+) and Na(+) work together as the electrochemical cycles increase. Also the structural evolution of LNCM is examined in terms of ex situ XRD pattern at the end of various charge-discharge scans. The strong insight obtained from this study could be beneficial to the design of new layered cathode materials for future rechargeable sodium-ion batteries.