Cathode material for sodium-ion batteries based on manganese hexacyanoferrate: the role of the binder component

Sodium manganese hexacyanoferrate (NaMnHCF) was synthesized by a hydrothermal method and investigated as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. The morphology and the structure of NaMnHCF were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and EDX analysis. New composition of NaMnHCF cathode material for sodium-ion batteries with eco-friendly water-based binder consisting of conducting polymer poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene/polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) dispersion and carboxymethyl cellulose (СМС) was proposed. The electrochemical properties of NaMnHCF cathode material with conductive polymer binder were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge, and the results were compared with the performance of a conventional PVDF-bound material. It was shown that the initial discharge capacity of electrodes with conductive binder is 130 mAh g⁻¹, whereas the initial discharge capacity of PVDF-bound electrodes was 109 mAh g⁻¹ (both at current density 120 mA g⁻¹, values normalized by NaMnHCF mass). The material with conductive binder also has better rate capability; however, it is losing in cycling capability to the electrode composition with conventional PVDF binder.