Tunnel-type β-FeOOH cathode material for high rate sodium storage via a new conversion reaction

Abstract

We have investigated a tunnel-type β-FeOOH cathode material for rapid sodium storage. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data obtained for β-FeOOH indicated that the structure was stabilized into [2 × 2] hollandite tunnel structure, and the adhesion of the β-FeOOH onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) led to a high electrical conductivity of 3 S cm−1. As a result, the β-FeOOH/CNTs composite electrode showed excellent electrode performance, with a discharge capacity of 205 mAh g−1 and a coulombic efficiency of 88.5% in the voltage range of 1.1–4 V during the first cycle, 131 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, and a capacity retention of 70% over 300 cycles at 10 C (1920 mA g−1). Based on the XRD, X-ray absorption, and time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy results, we suggest a new conversion mechanism for the β-FeOOH cathode material in Na cells, namely, FeOOH + Na+ + e- → FeO + NaOH. This conversion reaction produces NaOH as a byproduct, and the reaction is fairly reversible even at 10 C-rates.