Na–Mn–O cathodes are very promising for
sodium-ion
batteries but suffer major setbacks related to long-term cycling and
stability in air. With our high-throughput approach, a systematic
investigation of 52 different dopants of Na0.66MnO2 from across the periodic table was performed. The chemical
composition of Na0.66Mn0.9M0.1O2+δ (M = dopant) is utilized to unravel the impact of
dopants on the layered structure and investigate how different dopants
influence the battery performance and air and moisture stability.
A broad range of doping was possible, with 20 different dopants fully
integrating into the Na–Mn–O structures, including several
previously unstudied dopants (Si, Sc, Ga, Rb, Rh, Cs, Re, and Tl).
This yields high-interest novel cathodes, including a Rb-doped sample
with a high specific capacity of 200 mA h g–1, as
well as Mo- and Nb-doped samples with excellent capacity retentions
of 98% and 100%, respectively, after 10 cycles compared to 92% in
undoped Na0.66MnO2. The air and moisture stability
of the cathode material is studied systematically, and a number of
compositions show ultrahigh stability in air. This systematic approach
provides a rapid overview of the benefits of individual dopants and
also provides an excellent opportunity to elucidate trends across
the periodic table. Significantly, we find that the presence of reversible
anionic redox (absent in the undoped samples) correlates remarkably
well to the bond valence sum of the dopants, implying that dopants
can be used to tune the polarity of M–O bonds and encourage
anionic redox behavior. Such “speed dating” reveals
fundamental chemical insights and guides further design.