Incorporating Alkaline Earth Metals in Layered Transition Metal Oxides as Pillar Ions for Sodium-ion Batteries

Authors: Samuel Adler, Nathanael Strong, Hao Liu

Field of Study: Chemistry; Mathematical Sciences

Program Affiliation: Liu Group

Faculty Mentors: Hao Liu

Easel: 104

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: As renewable energy sources grow in popularity, energy storage technologies must be employed to fully utilize the intermittent power output. Lithium-ion technologies have dominated the energy storage field for decades. However, there are concerns about long-term material abundance. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are possible sustainable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. However, SIBs suffer from irreversible phase transformations, limiting their lifetime. One method to suppress these is doping the structure with immobile ions, acting as “pillars”. Pillared structures were synthesized via topotactic ion exchange on sodium and potassium layered transition metal oxides with strontium and barium nitrate. Successful synthesis of partially substituted sodium nickel manganese oxide with strontium was accomplished. Electrochemical testing will be performed on these substituted structures to determine the effectiveness of strontium as a pillar ion in this cathode material.