Mn-doped FeNCN as advance anode for potassium ion batteries

The development of anode materials with advanced structures to facilitate rapid charge transport and enhance potassium storage performance is urgently needed to propel the advancement of potassium ion batteries (PIBs). Transition metal carbodiimides have emerged as promising PIB electrode materials, but achieving high capacity and long-lasting cycling stability remains a challenging task. Here, Mn-doped FeNCN was synthesized by a one-step high-temperature solid-state reaction. Mn doping expands the lattice and boosts ionic conductivity, enabling favorable potassium ion storage and enhanced charging/discharging rates. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations also prove that Mn-doped FeNCN facilitates the enhancement of potassium ions adsorption and promotes electron transfer. As a result, optimized Mn-FeNCN delivers high reversible capacity (402.6 mAh/g at 100 mA g−1) as PIBs anode. Even at high current density of 1000 mA g−1, it still delivers the reverse capacity of 301 mAh/g. This work provides a promising strategy to improve electrochemical performance of the transition metal carbodiimides.