The O-type layered nickel oxides suffer from undesired co-operative Jahn-Teller distortion stemming from Ni3+ ions and undergo multiple biphasic structural transformations during the insertion/extraction of large Na+ ions, posing a significant challenge to stabilize the structural integrity. We present here a systematic investigation of the impact of substituting 5% divalent (Mg2+) or trivalent (Al3+ or Co3+) ions for Ni3+ to alleviate Na+-ion ordering and perturb the Jahn-Teller effect to enhance structural stability. We gauge a fundamental understanding of the Mg-O and Na-O or Mg-O-Na bonding interactions, noting that the ionicity of the Mg-O bond deshields the electronic cloud of oxygen from Na+ ions. Furthermore, calculations of the Van Vleck distortion modes reveal a relaxation of NiO6 octahedra from Jahn-Teller distortion and a reduced electron density at the interlayer with Mg2+ substitution. Long-range (operando X-ray diffraction) and short-range (magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) structural analyses provide insights into reduced ordering, allowing a stable continuous solid solution. Overall, Mg-substitution results in a high-capacity retention of ~ 96% even after 100 cycles, showcasing the potential of this strategy for overcoming the structural instabilities and enhancing the performance of sodium-ion batteries.
Keywords: sodium-ion batteries, cathodes, layered oxides, operando characterization, electrochemistry.
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