Tailoring Coral-Like Fe7Se8@C for Superior Low-Temperature Li/Na-Ion Half/Full Batteries: Synthesis, Structure, and DFT Studies.

ABSTRACT

The intrinsic charge-transfer property bears the primary responsibility for the sluggish redox kinetics of the common electrode materials, especially operated at low temperatures. Herein, we report the crafting of homogeneously confined Fe7Se8 nanoparticles with a well-defined graphitic carbon matrix that demonstrate a highly efficient charge-transfer system in a designed natural coral-like structure (cl-Fe7Se8@C). Notably, the intricate architecture as well as highly conductive peculiarity of C concurrently satisfy the demands of achieving fast ionic/electrical conductivities for both Li/Na-ion batteries in a wide temperature range. For example, when cl-Fe7Se8@C is employed as the anode material to assemble full batteries with the cathode of Na3V2(PO4)2O2F (NVPOF), decent capacities of 323.1 and 175.9 mA h g-1 can be acquired at temperatures of 25 and -25 °C, respectively. This work is significant for further developing potential anode materials for advanced energy storage and conversion under low-temperature conditions.