Air-stability of sodium-based layered-oxide cathode materials

Sodium-ion batteries have the potential to be an alternative to lithium-ion batteries especially for applications such as large-scale grid energy storage. The development of suitable cathode materials is crucial to the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries. Sodium-based layered-type transition metal oxides are promising candidates as cathode materials as they offer decent energy density and are easy to be synthesized. Unfortunately, most layered oxides suffer from poor air-stability, which greatly increases the cost of manufacturing and handling. The air-sensitivity severely limits the development and commercial application of sodium-ion batteries. A review that summarizes the latest understanding and solutions of air-sensitivity is desired. In this review, the background and fundamentals of sodium-based layered-type cathode materials are presented, followed by a discussion on the latest research on air-sensitivity of these materials. The mechanism is complex and involves multiple chemical and physical reactions. Various strategies are shown to alleviate some of the corresponding problems and promote the feasible application of sodium-ion batteries, followed by an outlook on current and future research directions of air-stable cathode materials. It is believed that this review will provide insights for researchers to develop practically relevant materials for sodium-ion batteries.