A sodium manganese oxide cathode by facile reduction for sodium batteries

A nonstoichiometric sodium manganese oxide (Na(x)MnO(2+δ)) cathode useful for sodium batteries was synthesized by an ambient-temperature strategy that involved facile reduction of aqueous sodium permanganate in sodium iodide and subsequent heat treatment at 600 °C. Combined powder X-ray diffraction and synchrotron X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the annealed sample to belong to a Na(x)MnO2 phase with a P2-hexagonal structure. The ICP-AES results confirmed the stoichiometry of the sample to be Na0.53MnO(2+δ) . Electron microscopy studies revealed the particle size of the electrode to be in the range of a few hundred nanometers. The Na0.53MnO(2+δ) cathode delivered an average discharge capacity of 170 mA h g(-1) with a stable plateau at 2.1 V for the initial 25 cycles versus sodium. Ex situ XANES studies confirmed the reversible intercalation of sodium into Na0.53MnO(2+δ) and suggested the accommodation of over-stoichiometric Mn(4+) ions to contribute towards the performance of the electrode.