Understanding sodium versus lithium intercalation potentials of electrode materials for alkali-ion batteries
Abstract
Differences in average voltages for the alkali ion intercalation (Li, Na) in a variety of electrode materials are investigated. The average Li and Na insertion potentials in the cavities of ◻ReO3-perovskite, ramsdellite-◻Ti2O4, layered-◻2A2Ti3O7 (A = Li, Na) and NASICON-◻Na3Ti2(PO4)3 have been calculated by first principles calculations at the density functional theory level. The results identify the type of site occupied by the inserted ion as the relevant structural parameter. Occupation of large sites (c.n. = 12, 8) might yield Na insertion voltages higher than Li ones. On the other extreme, occupation of tetrahedral sites raises the Li insertion voltage as much as 0.8 V above the Na one. For octahedral sites the higher polarizing character of Li ions vs. Na ions acts as a key-factor to bring the Li intercalation voltage above that of Na intercalation.
