Issue 19, 2021

Freestanding interlayers for Li–S batteries: design and synthesis of hierarchically porous N-doped C nanofibers comprising vanadium nitride quantum dots and MOF-derived hollow N-doped C nanocages

Abstract

The introduction of a functional interlayer between the cathode and anode in lithium–sulfur battery (LSB) technology results in significant improvements in electrochemical performance. Here, we developed hierarchically structured porous, conductive, and multifunctional N-doped carbon (N-C) nanofibers comprising homogeneously dispersed vanadium nitride quantum dots and hollow N-C nanocages as functional interlayers for advanced LSBs. The freestanding interlayer contains well-developed long-range channels and numerous interconnected hollow N-C nanocages derived from the metal–organic framework. Furthermore, the presence of a N-C framework and vanadium nitride quantum dots measuring several nanometers improves the redox reaction kinetics and provides numerous chemisorption sites for the effective trapping and reuse of lithium polysulfide. As a result, the assembled Li–S cell employing the unique nanostructured freestanding interlayer exhibits superior rate capability and stable cycling performance (decay rate of 0.02% per cycle at 0.5C) considering the high sulfur content (80 wt%) and loading (ca. 4 mg cm−2) in the sulfur electrodes. Even with an ultra-high sulfur loading of 11.0 mg cm−2, the Li–S cell delivered a stable areal capacity of 5.0 mA h cm−2 after 100 charge–discharge cycles at 0.05C. Thus, the uniquely nanostructured interlayer shows high potential for the development of advanced LSBs utilizing pure sulfur electrodes with realistic battery parameters.

Graphical abstract: Freestanding interlayers for Li–S batteries: design and synthesis of hierarchically porous N-doped C nanofibers comprising vanadium nitride quantum dots and MOF-derived hollow N-doped C nanocages

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Mar 2021
Accepted
16 Apr 2021
First published
16 Apr 2021

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021,9, 11651-11664

Freestanding interlayers for Li–S batteries: design and synthesis of hierarchically porous N-doped C nanofibers comprising vanadium nitride quantum dots and MOF-derived hollow N-doped C nanocages

R. Saroha, J. H. Oh, Y. H. Seon, Y. C. Kang, J. S. Lee, D. W. Jeong and J. S. Cho, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 11651 DOI: 10.1039/D1TA01802G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements