Electrochemical lithium and sodium insertion studies in 3D metal oxy-phosphate framework MoWO<inf>3</inf>(PO<inf>4</inf>)<inf>2</inf> for battery applications

A new type of three-dimensional (3D) oxy-phosphate materials are explored for the application of Li and Na batteries. The molybdenum tungsten oxy phosphate, MoWO3(PO4)2, was synthesized by solid-state method and evaluated for Li/Na insertion/de-insertion electrode material for the first time. The cell at charged state (vs. Li+/Li) showed a discharge capacity of 786 mAh g−1 within the voltage window of 0.3 V with amorphization of crystalline MoWO3(PO4)2 as observed from ex-situ powder XRD analysis. The structural integrity was revealed in this material, even with nearly more than 5 Li+ ions into the lattice, leading to the discharge capacity of 250 mAh g−1. The reversible charge/discharge behavior with insertion/de-insertion of 2.4 Li+ ions in the voltage range of 1.65 − 3.5 V resulted in 110 and 95 mAh g−1 at C/10 and C/5 rates, respectively. On the other hand, poor cycling performance was noticed for Na ion insertion and desertion, with a discharge capacity of 250 mAh/g within the voltage range of 0.3 − 3.5 V (vs. Na+/Na).