Many-Particle Na-Ion Dynamics in NaMPO4 Olivine Phosphates (M = Mn, Fe)

T. Flack, S.A. Jobbins, S. E. Boulfelfel, S. Leoni*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

NaMPO 4 (M = Mn, Fe) olivine phosphates represent less expensive, safer and sustainable alternatives to Lithium-ion materials for battery applications. Compared to their lithium analogues, NaMPO 4 materials exist in two structures, maricite and olivine. Their implementation calls for an in-depth investigation of diffusion/conduction mechanisms, including conductivity dimensionality and how structural features map onto Na pathways. In this work, we present a refined version of our finite temperature molecular dynamics “shooting” approach, originally designed to enhance Li hopping probability in lithiated olivine compounds. We perform a comparative analysis of ion mobility in both Mn and Fe olivine materials, focused on many-particle effects. Therein, we identify main [010] diffusion channels, as well as means of inter-channel couplings, in the form of Na cross-channel [001] hopping, which markedly impact the overall mobility efficiency as measured by self-diffusion coefficients. Through introduction of antisite defects, additional pathways along [100] appear, which are specific for Na olivine phosphates, indicating limited transferability of observations made on the Li compounds, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The overall diffusion figures of merit result from the competition and cooperation among different translocation channels, including self-doping. This clearly supports the need for many-particle approaches for reliable mechanistic investigations and for battery materials benchmarking, due to the complex nature of the diffusion and transport mechanisms. In this chapter we illustrate translocation mechanisms in detail, from which diffusion constants are evaluated.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComputational Design of Battery Materials
EditorsDorian A.H. Hanaor
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Pages137-167
Number of pages31
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-47303-6
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-47302-9
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 5 Jul 2024

Publication series

NameTopics in Applied Physics
Volume150
ISSN (Print)0303-4216
ISSN (Electronic)1437-0859

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