Nb5+-doped P2-type Mn-based layered oxide cathode with an excellent high-rate cycling stability for sodium-ion batteries

P2-Na 0.67 Co 0.25 Mn 0.75- x Nb x O 2 ( x = 0, 0.015, 0.030, 0.045) cathode materials were obtained by a simple solid-state method. The Nb 5+ -doped effects on ameliorating the structural and electrochemical properties of the Na 0.67 Co 0.25 Mn 0.75 O 2 parent material for sodium-ion batteries have been investigated. XRD measurements confirm a hexagonal main phase (P6 3 /mmc) and some trace of orthorhombic NaNbO 3 (P2 1 ma). Rietveld refinements exhibit the higher lattice parameters and the bigger c / a values due to Nb 5+ doping into the parent Na 0.67 Co 0.25 Mn 0.75 O 2 . The optimized 3.0 at.% Nb 5+ -doped P2-Na 0.67 Co 0.25 Mn 0.75 O 2 sample delivers the initial discharge capacity of 126.7 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C in the voltage range of 1.8–4.0 V, and its capacity retention is 75.3% after 100 cycles, which is 63.7% higher than that of the pristine. Whereas at 10 C rate, the optimized sample presents the maximal discharge capacity of 72.8 mAh g −1 with an excellent high-rate cycling stability of 91.6% retention after 100 cycles, correspondingly the pristine shows 61.4 mAh g −1 and 73.1% retention. These excellent electrochemical performances are ascribed to better structural stability, and lower charge transfer resistance and higher Na + diffusion coefficient after Nb 5+ doping. Therefore, the Nb 5+ -doped P2-type cathode materials can be deemed as a beneficial improvement for researches on sodium-ion batteries.