Olivine NaFePO4/C microsphere cathode is prepared by a facile aqueous electrochemical displacement method from LiFePO4/C precursor. The NaFePO4/C cathode shows a high discharge capacity of 111 mAh g(-1), excellent cycling stability with 90% capacity retention over 240 cycles at 0.1 C, and high rate capacity (46 mAh g(-1) at 2 C). The excellent electrochemical performance demonstrates that the aqueous electrochemical displacement method is an effective and promising way to prepare NaFePO4/C material for Na-based energy storage applications. Moreover, the Na2/3FePO4 intermediate is observed for the first time during the Na intercalation process through conventional electrochemical techniques, corroborating an identical two-step phase transition reaction both upon Na intercalation and deintercalation processes. The clarification of the electrochemical reaction mechanism of olivine NaFePO4 could inspire more attention on the investigation of this material for Na ion batteries.
Keywords: Na ion batteries; NaFePO4; aqueous; electrochemical displacement; olivine structure.