NaV3O8 nanosheet@polypyrrole core–shell composites with good electrochemical performance as cathodes for Na-ion batteries

Novel NaV3O8 nanosheet@polypyrrole core-shell composites have been successfully prepared for the first time via a chemical oxidative polymerization method. Based on the morphological and microstructural characterization, it was found that polypyrrole (PPy) was uniformly wrapped on the surfaces of the NaV3O8 nanosheets. When used as a cathode for Na-ion batteries, the as-synthesized NaV3O8@10% PPy composite showed significantly improved cycling performance (with a discharge capacity of 99 mA h g(-1) after 60 cycles at 80 mA g(-1)) and better rate capacity (with a discharge capacity of 63 mA h g(-1) at a high current density of 640 mA g(-1)) than pristine NaV3O8 nanosheets. The greatly enhanced performance benefits from the unique core-shell structure, where the PPy coating not only prevents the pulverization and aggregation of the lamellar NaV3O8 nanosheets during cycling, which can improve the cycling stability, but also enhances the electrical conductivity of the composite, which can facilitate Na(+) ion diffusion.