Biotemplating: A Sustainable Synthetic Methodology for Na-ion Battery Materials

Dextran biotemplating is a novel, sustainable and reduced-temperature synthetic approach that allows a high level of control over the size and shape of particles formed. This article discusses the application of this technique to the synthesis of an important candidate sodium-ion positive electrode material, Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 (or 'NNM'), with a high theoretical specific capacity (173 mA h g(-1)). While a solid state reference sample prepared at 850 degrees C exhibited a specific capacity of similar to 80 mA h g(-1) after 10 cycles, samples made via our dextran biotemplating route with final calcination at 550 degrees C for 12 h showed a large and significant improvement at 103.1 mA h g(-1), under the same operating conditions.