High-capacity cathode and anode materials for sodium batteries

Lead Institution: 
Qatar Foundation
Principal Investigator: 
Hamdi Yahia
Project ID: 
48857
Abstract: 

Since the sodium reserves are easily accessible, we decided to investigate sodium ion batteries (NaIBs), as new energy storage systems, for large-scale battery applications. This proposal seeks to develop an understanding of the structure property relationship along with dynamic and emerging processes in these materials which would help for a better design of the future full sodium ion cells. The orthophosphates with the general formula AMB2(PO4)3 and A2MB2(PO4)3, where A is an alkali metal, and M and B are divalent or trivalent transition metals will be used in these studies. The proposed work will be covering materials synthesis, structural and chemical characterization, and electrochemical properties measurements. In EMSL, we will be using the in-situ and ex-situ XPS, Micro XRD, TEM, NMR/EPR, and APT for characterization of these materials in collaboration with EMSL scientists. Since the orthophosphates AMB2(PO4)3 and A2MB2(PO4)3 have never been used previously as anode materials for sodium ion batteries, we are pioneer in this area and our results will be published in high impact factor journals. As such, we believe that this work will lead to accelerated discovery and tailoring of new material concept for energy storage based on sodium ions and the collaborative effort of the multi-national team from Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hanyang University and Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) lays the foundation for the success of this cutting edge research effort.