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Vol. 18 (2026)

Regulation Engineering of Alkali Metal Interlayer Pillar in P2-Type Cathode for Ultra-High Rate and Long-Term Cycling Sodium-Ion Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01918-7
Xu Wang
State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
Zixiang Yang
State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
Yujia Cai
State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
Heng Ma
Zhejiang HuaDian Electric Equipment Testing and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 311100, People’s Republic of China
Jinglei Xu
Zhejiang HuaDian Electric Equipment Testing and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 311100, People’s Republic of China
Rabia Khatoon
London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UK
Zhizhen Ye
State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
Dashuai Wang
Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, People’s Republic of China
Muhammad Tariq Sajjad
London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UK
Jianguo Lu
State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Jianguo Lu

lujianguo@zju.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 105

Abstract

Layered oxides have attracted significant attention as cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their compositional versatility and tuneable electrochemical performance. However, these materials still face challenges such as structural phase transitions, Na+/vacancy ordering, and Jahn–Teller distortion effect, resulting in severe capacity decay and sluggish ion kinetics. We develop a novel Cu/Y dual-doping strategy that leads to the formation of "Na–Y" interlayer aggregates, which act as structural pillars within alkali metal layers, enhancing structural stability and disrupting the ordered arrangement of Na+/vacancies. This disruption leads to a unique coexistence of ordered and disordered Na+/vacancy states with near-zero strain, which significantly improves Na+ diffusion kinetics. This structural innovation not only mitigates the unfavorable P2–O2 phase transition but also facilitates rapid ion transport. As a result, the doped material demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance, including an ultra-long cycle life of 3000 cycles at 10 C and an outstanding high-rate capability of ~70 mAh g−1 at 50 C. The discovery of this novel interlayer pillar, along with its role in modulating Na⁺/vacancy arrangements, provides a fresh perspective on engineering layered oxides. It opens up promising new pathways for the structural design of advanced cathode materials toward efficient, stable, and high-rate SIBs.


Highlights:
1 A novel “Na–Y” interlayer aggregate is proposed, which acts as a robust interlayer pillar, distinct from previously reported single-ion-based pillar structures.
2 The coexistence of ordered and disordered Na⁺/vacancy states resulting from Cu/Y dual-site doping can stimulate rapid Na⁺ diffusion.
3 The designed Na0.67Y0.05Ni0.18Cu0.1Mn0.67O2 electrode exhibits outstanding long-term cycling performance (~3000 cycles) and high-rate capability (~ 70 mAh g−1 at 50 C).

Keywords

Sodium-ion batteries Layered oxides P2-type phase Dual-site doping Regulation engineering
Wang, Xu, Zixiang Yang, Yujia Cai, Heng Ma, Jinglei Xu, Rabia Khatoon, Zhizhen Ye, Dashuai Wang, Muhammad Tariq Sajjad, and Jianguo Lu. 2026. “Regulation Engineering of Alkali Metal Interlayer Pillar in P2-Type Cathode for Ultra-High Rate and Long-Term Cycling Sodium-Ion Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (January):105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01918-7.
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