Carbon with hierarchical pores from carbonized metal–organic frameworks for lithium sulphur batteries

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method and rationale for utilizing carbonized MOFs for sulphur loading to fabricate cathode structures for lithium–sulphur batteries. Unique carbon materials with differing hierarchical pore structures were synthesized from four types of zinc-containing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). It is found that cathode materials made from MOFs-derived carbons with higher mesopore (2–50 nm) volumes exhibit increased initial discharge capacities, whereas carbons with higher micropore (<2 nm) volumes lead to cathode materials with better cycle stability.