Significant study of BaTiO3 as a cathode for magnesium battery applications

The attempts to tailor the physical properties of barium titanate (BTO) to qualify it as a promising cathode for metal-ion batteries are interesting strategies. Herein, the paper attempts to modify the structure of BTO via electrochemical insertion of Mg ion within the framework of BTO. Introduction of Mg 2+ ions within the framework of BTO drives the characteristic ferroelectric transition from 388K to 393K; furthermore, heat treatment of BTO beyond ferroelectric transition temperature T c redistributes Mg ions within the framework of BTO, which results in downshifting of the T c near the room temperature. XRD results confirm magnesiation and heat treatment of the magnesized BTO stimulates structure transformation from tetragonal to a cubic phase. The synthesized liquid Mg-electrolyte has exhibited an excellent LSV and Mg-platting/stripping. The assembled Mg/BTO cells with magnesized BTO cathode has relatively high initial specific capacity of 179.7 mAhg −1 , compared with the pristine BTO of 72.5 mAhg −1 . • Mg 2+ insertion in the framework of BaTiO 3 regulates ferroelectric transition state. • Downshift in the ferroelectric transition temperature upon insertion and preheating. • BaTiO 3 evolution from tetragonal to cubic upon insertion and heating beyond T C . • The structure evolution of BTiO 3 was monitored by Rietveld method.