Doping Fe at the Co-tetrahedra site to improve the microstructure, optical, and Na-ion migrations in Na2Co1-xFexSiO4

Na2Co1-xFexSiO4 (NCFS)-based ceramics are some of the most promising alternatives to sodium-ion rechargeable batteries (SIBs). It was believed that the intrinsic qualities would be improved by the defect chemistry and the doping impact of iron in Na2CoSiO4 (NCS). In this study, Na2Co1-xFexSiO4 with x = 0.1 and 0.2 sample structural characteristics, optical properties, ionic conductivities, and Na migration are examined. Contrary to the space group Pna2(1) undoped compound, the Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns of NCFSs reveals an orthorhombic phase with the space group Pca2(1). It is discovered that the temperature dependence relaxation obeys the Arrhenius law, and the identical relaxation times for the charge transport mechanism are suggested by the weak separation of the activation energies for the two relaxation processes (R(A) and R(B)). The transportation behavior of Na+ in many chemical environments is made more favorable by Fe doping, and this has a significant impact on the electrical characteristics. As the Fe content increases, the conductivity increases as well. As the frequency increases, the frequency dependence of ac conductivity is examined to identify the conduction mechanisms such as OLPT, CBH, and inverse OLPT models.

Automated summary

Na2Co1-xFexSiO4 (NCFS)-based ceramics show great promise as alternatives to sodium-ion rechargeable batteries (SIBs). The defect chemistry and doping impact of iron on Na2CoSiO4 (NCS) can improve the intrinsic qualities of the material. In this study, Na2Co1-xFexSiO4 with x = 0.1 and 0.2 samples were examined to understand their structural characteristics, optical properties, ionic conductivities, and sodium migration. It was found that the Fe doping resulted in an orthorhombic phase with improved conductivity. The frequency dependence of ac conductivity was also analyzed to identify conduction mechanisms.