Issue 1, 2018

Self-assembled N-graphene nanohollows enabling ultrahigh energy density cathode for Li–S batteries

Abstract

Functional porous carbon materials are widely used to solve the low conductivity and shuttle effect of Li–S batteries; however, the common carbon/sulfur composite electrodes based on traditional technology (with conducting agents and binders) make it difficult for a battery to work stably at an ultra-high sulfur loading of 10 mg cm−2. Herein, an appropriate content of sulfur was injected into a pomegranate-like structure self-assembled with nanohollows (PSSN) of N-graphene. The Li-PSSN/S battery based on traditional technology displays a large-capacity, high-rate and long-life at an ultra-high areal-sulfur loading of 10.1 mg cm−2. The excellent performance with ultra-high areal-sulfur loading can be attributed to the hierarchal nanohollows with graphene-shells being in close contact to build a 3D-electronic conduction network and promoting electrolyte adsorption into the entire electrode to maintain rapid Li-ion transport, while stopping the shuttle-effect via the strong interaction of polysulfide with the doped N elements on graphene-shells. In addition, the exact sulfur content can provide just enough space to maintain the huge volume change and constant thickness of the S-electrodes during the charge–discharge process to enhance the cycling stability.

Graphical abstract: Self-assembled N-graphene nanohollows enabling ultrahigh energy density cathode for Li–S batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Sept. 2017
Accepted
24 Nov. 2017
First published
27 Nov. 2017

Nanoscale, 2018,10, 386-395

Self-assembled N-graphene nanohollows enabling ultrahigh energy density cathode for Li–S batteries

H. Tang, J. Yang, G. Zhang, C. Liu, H. Wang, Q. Zhao, J. Hu, Y. Duan and F. Pan, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 386 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR06731C

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