Material innovation on high-performance Na-ion cathodes and the corresponding understanding of structural chemistry still remain a challenge. Herein, we report a new concept of high-entropy strategy to design layered oxide cathodes for Na-ion batteries. An example of layered O3-type NaNi0.12 Cu0.12 Mg0.12 Fe0.15 Co0.15 Mn0.1 Ti0.1 Sn0.1 Sb0.04 O2 has been demonstrated, which exhibits the longer cycling stability (ca. 83 % of capacity retention after 500 cycles) and the outstanding rate capability (ca. 80 % of capacity retention at the rate of 5.0 C). A highly reversible phase-transition behavior between O3 and P3 structures occurs during the charge-discharge process, and importantly, this behavior is delayed with more than 60 % of the total capacity being stored in O3-type region. Possible mechanism can be attributed to the multiple transition-metal components in this high-entropy material which can accommodate the changes of local interactions during Na+ (de)intercalation. This strategy opens new insights into the development of advanced cathode materials.
Keywords: O3-type structure; P3-type structure; cathode materials; high-entropy composition; sodium-ion batteries.
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