Sodium-ion
batteries (SIBs) have attracted wide attention because of their prospects
for grid-scale electrical regulation and cost effectiveness of sodium.
In this regard, iron oxides (FeO
x
) are
considered as one of the most promising anode candidates due to their
high theoretical capacity and low cost. Unfortunately, the utilization
of FeO
x
anodes suffers from sluggish reaction
kinetics and significant lattice variation, causing insufficient rate
performance and fast capacity degradation during the sodiation/desodiation
process. In this study, Mn ions are incorporated through interstitial
sites into a Fe3O4 lattice to form the Mn-incorporated
Fe3O4/graphene (M-Fe3O4/G) composites through a facile hydrothermal method. Confirmed by
XRD Rietveld refinement and the first-principles calculation, Mn occupation
into the body structure can effectively condense the electron density
around the Fermi level and thus contributes to the increased electrical
conductivity and improved electrochemical properties. Accordingly,
the M0.1Fe2.9O4/G composite demonstrates
a high reversible capacity of 439.8 mA h g–1 at
a current density of 100 mA g–1 over 200 cycles.
Even at a high current density of 1 A g–1, the M-Fe3O4/G composites remain stable for over 1200 cycles,
delivering a capacity of 210 mA h g–1. Coupled with
a Na3V2(PO4)3-type cathode,
the Mn-incorporated Fe3O4/G composites demonstrate
good suitability in full SIBs (161.2 mA h g–1 at
the current density of 1 A g–1 after 100 cycles).
The regulation of Mn ions in the Fe3O4 lattice
provides insights into the optimization of metal oxide anode candidates
for their application in SIBs.