NaFeTiO4 nanorod/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries with high performances in both half and full cells

NaFeTiO4 nanorods of high yields (with diameters in the range of 30-50 nm and lengths of up to 1-5 μm) were synthesized by a facile sol-gel method and were utilized as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries for the first time.The obtained NaFeTiO4 nanorods exhibit a high initial discharge capacity of 294 mA·h·g-1 at 0.2 C (1 C =177 mA·g-1),and remain at 115 mA·h·g-1 after 50 cycles.Furthermore,multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were mechanically milled with the pristine material to obtain NaFeTiO4/MWCNTs.The NaFeTiO4/MWCNTs electrode exhibits a significantly improved electrochemical performance with a stable discharge capacity of 150 mA·h·g-1 at 0.2 C after 50 cycles,and remains at 125 mA·h·g-1 at 0.5 C after 420 cycles.The NaFeTiO4/MWCNTs//Na3V2(PO4)3/C full cell was assembled for the first time;it displays a discharge capacity of 70 mA·h·g-1 after 50 cycles at 0.05 C,indicating its excellent performances.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,ex situ X-ray diffraction,and Raman measurements were performed to investigate the initial electrochemical mechanisms of the obtained NaFeTiO4/MWCNTs.