Early View e202509342
Research Article

Universal Chemical Presodiation Under Air Condition for Highly Stable Na-deficient Oxide Cathodes

Fei Li

Fei Li

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

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Yaohui Huang

Yaohui Huang

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

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Tong Zhang

Tong Zhang

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

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Zihao Song

Zihao Song

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

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Xiangshuai Wei

Xiangshuai Wei

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

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Prof. Fujun Li

Corresponding Author

Prof. Fujun Li

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192 China

Nankai University & Cangzhou Bohai New Area Institute of Green Chemical Engineering, Cangzhou, Hebei, 061000 China

E-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 03 July 2025

Graphical Abstract

A universal chemical presodiation strategy using Na-Bpy/DEE is proposed for Na-deficient oxide cathodes under air condition, which promotes formation of uniform and robust NaF-rich interface during presodiation. This minimizes stress accumulation and structure distortion upon Na+ intercalation/extraction to exhibit high-capacity retention.

Abstract

Layered transition-metal oxides have attracted growing attention for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs); however, their application is hindered by low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) due to Na-deficiency and solid-electrolyte interphase formation. Herein, a universal chemical presodiation pathway is reported with Na-bipyridine dissolved in diethyl ether (Na-Bpy/DEE) for stable Na-deficient P2-Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 (NNMO) electrode under air condition. The strongly electron-withdrawing N-functional groups of Bpy•− radicals endow its air insensitivity, and it reduces the NNMO cathode for compensation of Na+ from the weakly solvating DEE. This results in a uniform and robust NaF-rich interface to prevent surface lattice disorder of NNMO, which is caused by local stress, and preserve structure integrity. The presodiated NNMO electrode shows high ICE of 100% and reversible capacity of 158.3 mAh g−1, and its pouch cell coupled with hard carbon presents high-capacity retention of 95.9% after 200 cycles. This work proposes an industrially feasible presodiation strategy to highly efficient SIBs.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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