Leidenfrost Assisted Synthesis Enables High-Performance Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes
The Research group of Dr. Rohit Ranganathan Gaddam, Department of Chemical Engineering has developed a scalable Leidenfrost?assisted synthesis strategy to design indium?substituted mixed?phosphate cathodes for sodium?ion batteries. The work, led by Subhajit Singha and published in Small, introduces a low?cost approach for preparing In3+-doped Na4Fe3-xInx(PO4)2P2O7 cathodes. Strategic substitution of indium at the Fe site expands the crystal lattice and enhances Na+ diffusion pathways, leading to improved electrochemical kinetics and excellent cycling stability. The optimized composition Na4Fe2.97In0.03(PO4)2P2O7 delivers a high specific capacity of 129.3 mAh g-1 at 0.05 C with an energy density of ~359 Wh kg-1 and remarkable stability for more than 10,000 cycles at 20 C. Magnetic susceptibility and EPR measurements reveal enhanced spin states and improved electrical conductivity compared to the pristine material. Ex situ XRD and XPS confirm structural robustness during repeated sodiation and desodiation. Complementary DFT calculations show widened Na+ migration channels, reduced diffusion barriers, and a narrowed bandgap. This work demonstrates a scalable route for developing cost?effective iron?based cathodes and highlights the potential of sodium?ion batteries for sustainable large?scale energy storage. For more details, visit https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1118190
