Owing to their abundant resources and low cost, potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have become a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the larger ionic radius and higher mass of K+ propose a challenging issue for finding suitable cathode materials. Prussian whites (PWs) have a rigid open framework and affordable synthesis method, but they suffer quick capacity fade due to lattice volume change and structural instability during K+ insertion/extraction. Here, we prepared controllable gradient concentration KxFeaNibMn1-a-b[Fe(CN)6]y·zH2O particles via a facile coprecipitation process, demonstrating high-performance potassium-ion storage. The high-Mn content in the interior can minimize capacity loss caused by electrochemically inert Ni and achieve a high reversible capacity; meanwhile, the high-FeNi content in the exterior can alleviate the volume change of the core material upon cycling, thus enhancing structural stability. Taking the above synergistic effect, the controllable gradient concentration PWs deliver a high reversible capacity of 109.8 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and good capacity retention of 77.8% after 200 cycles. The gradient concentration PWs can retain structural integrity and stability during long-term cycling. This work provides a prospective strategy to fabricate PWs with stable structure and excellent electrochemical performance for developing high-performance PIBs.
Keywords: Prussian whites; control of gradient concentration; high performance cathodes; potassium-ion batteries; structural stability.