Unraveling the storage mechanism of Na$_{3}$V$_{2-x}$Ni$_x$(PO$_4$)$_2$F$_3$/C cathodes for sodium-ion batteries through electrochemical, {\it operando} X-ray diffraction and microscopy studies

Abstract: The storage mechanism and diffusion kinetics of Na${3}$V${2-x}$Ni${x}$(PO${4}$)${2}$F${3}$/C ($x=$ 0--0.07) cathodes are investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). All the samples are prepared through the facile pH-assisted sol-gel route and crystallize in the P4$_{2}$/mnm symmetry. The optimal doping of Ni ($x=$ 0.05) exhibits superior specific capacities of 119 and 100 mAh g$^{-1}$ at 0.1 C and 10 C rates, respectively, along the excellent capacity retention of 78\% after 2000 cycles at 10 C rate with nearly 100\% Coulombic efficiency. The apparent diffusion coefficient values are found to be in the range of 10$^{-9}$--10$^{-10}$ cm$^{2}$ s$^{-1}$ through detailed analysis of CV and GITT. Moreover, we report the reversible structural evolution and morphological changes during charging and discharging under non-equilibrium conditions through the {\it operando} X-ray diffraction and the {\it in-situ} synchrotron based transmission X-ray microscopy, respectively. Further, to understand the stability mechanism and obtain precise polarization values, we performed the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis using the EIS data. The structure and morphology are found to be stable after long cycling.