Mo3Nb14O44: A New Li+ Container for High‐Performance Electrochemical Energy Storage

• Published in: Energy & environmental materials (Hoboken, N.J.) Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 65 - 71
• Main Authors: Li, Renjie, Liang, Guisheng, Zhu, Xiangzhen, Fu, Qingfeng, Chen, Yongjun, Luo, Lijie, Lin, Chunfu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2021
• Subjects: anode; Anodes; Batteries; Containers; Crystal structure; Electrochemistry; Energy storage; in situ XRD; Interlayers; Li+ storage; Lithium; Lithium manganese oxides; Lithium-ion batteries; Mo3Nb14O44; Molybdenum; Nanotechnology; Nanowires; Retention; shear ReO3 crystal structure; Tetrahedra
• ISSN: 2575-0356; 2575-0356
• DOI: 10.1002/eem2.12098

Intercalating Nb‐based oxides are promising anode compounds for lithium‐ion batteries since they have both good safety and large capacities. However, the research in this field is still limited. Here, Mo3Nb14O44 with a large theoretical capacity of 398 mAh g–1 (Mo6+↔Mo4+ and Nb5+↔Nb3+) is exploited as a new Nb‐based oxide anode compound, and Mo3Nb14O44 micron‐sized particles (Mo3Nb14O44‐M) and Mo3Nb14O44 nanowires (Mo3Nb14O44‐N) are demonstrated. Mo3Nb14O44 owns a tetragonal shear ReO3 crystal structure (high‐symmetric I4¯ space group) constructed by 4 × 4×∞ (Mo,Nb)O6 octahedron blocks linked by MoO4 tetrahedra, forming an A–B–A layered structure with a large interlayer spacing. This interesting structure allows fast Li+ storage within the interlayers and significant intercalation‐pseudocapacitive behavior, leading to the high rate performance of Mo3Nb14O44‐M/Mo3Nb14O44‐N with a large 10C versus 0.1C capacity retention percentage of 38.1/54.2%. Mo3Nb14O44‐M/Mo3Nb14O44‐N further exhibits a safe operating potential of 1.72/1.68 V, large reversible capacity of 323/321 mAh g–1 at 0.1C, high initial coulombic efficiency of 92.2/90.0%, and good cycling stability with 71.8/75.8% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 10C. Additionally, a LiMn2O4/Mo3Nb14O44‐N full cell also performs well. Therefore, Mo3Nb14O44 holds great promise as a fast‐charging, safe, large‐capacity, high‐efficient, and long‐life Li+ anode container. Mo3Nb14O44 with an open and stable shear ReO3 crystal structure (high‐symmetric I4¯ space group) is exploited as a new Li+ anode container. External Li+ mainly stores within its interlayers between its ab‐layers. It exhibits a safe operating potential, large reversible capacity, high initial coulombic efficiency, high rate performance, and good cycling stability, thereby becoming very promising for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries.