PrO modification effectively enhancing sodium storage for NaV(PO) batteries.

NaV(PO) (NVP) is one of the most promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its robust three-dimensional framework, high tunability, and relatively high Na intercalation potentials. However, its utility is generally constrained by low conductivity, inefficient charge transfer, and subpar interface kinetics. This work presents an efficient and simple method to address these issues. We innovatively modified the NVP surface with PrO nanoparticles, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermosensitive material, to enhance interface compatibility with electrolytes and improve conductivity. This modification significantly enhances the overall sodium-ion storage performance. Specifically, the optimized NVP-2 %PrO electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical properties with the aid of an optimized conductivity network compared to the unmodified NVP. Cycled at an 8C current density, the NVP-2 %PrO electrode achieves high specific capacities of 102.6 mAh·g at 27 °C and 95.6 mAh·g at 45 °C. After 1000 cycles, the capacity retention rates are 81.18 % and 78.97 %, respectively, significantly higher than the 20.59 % and 14.99 % of pure NVP. In coin full-battery testing, the NVP-2 %PrO electrode retains 89.76 % capacity after 500 cycles at 8C. In addition, the assembled The NVP-2 %PrO//HC pouch full battery exhibits better sodium-ion storage and thermal safety performance compared to the NVP-SP//HC battery. This simple modification strategy provides an effective insight into the application of NVP electrodes in energy storage.