Energy storage via batteries is a key technology in the world’s transition to a sustainable energy system, aiding in load-levelling and storing surplus energy. However, with expected increases in the price of lithium and cobalt for lithium-ion batteries, widely used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics, a more sustainable alternative for grid energy storage is key, such as sodium-ion batteries. However, as with their lithium counterparts, one of the main obstacles to sodium-ion batteries application is cathode chemistry, so big efforts are being made world-wide to achieve better, more efficient cathodes.

In this work,N2/3Ni0.27Mg0.06Mn2/3O2, a very promising transition metal oxide cathode for SIBs has been synthesised using a novel organic synthesis route [1]. which involves the use of metal acetates and oleic-acid to form an emulsion. Additionally, since this route uses organic precursors, and the reaction side-products are non-contaminant makes it environmentally friendly. It has also been proved to be faster and more efficient than the dry-milling or sol-gel methods, and has a huge potential to be upscaled.

X-ray diffraction has been used to study the structural evolution of the synthesised particles towards the expected stable P2 structure. Scanninng-electron microscopy shows that the particles present an hexagonal shape, with particle size in very good agreement with previous results published in the literature using more conventional techniques [2]. Aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate the crystalline quality of individual particles, and to confirm the atomic structure of the material.




References
[1] F. J. García, R. Klee, P. Lavela, M. R. D. Bomio, J. L. Tirado. ChemElectroChem,2020, 7, 3528  
[2] U. Maitra, R. A. House, J. W. Somerville, N. Tapia-Ruiz, J. G. Lozano, N. Guerrini, R. Hao, K. Luo, L. Jin, M.A. Pérez-Osorio, F. Massel, D. M. Pickup, S. Ramos, Xi. Lu, D. E. McNally, A. V. Chadwick, F. Giustino, T. Schmitt, L. C.  Duda, M. R. Roberts, P. G. Bruce. Nature Chemistry 2018, 10, 288