Three-dimensional porous carbon composites containing high sulfur nanoparticle content for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries.

ABSTRACT: Sulfur is a promising cathode material for lithium-sulfur batteries because of its high theoretical capacity (1,675?mA?h?g(-1)); however, its low electrical conductivity and the instability of sulfur-based electrodes limit its practical application. Here we report a facile in situ method for preparing three-dimensional porous graphitic carbon composites containing sulfur nanoparticles (3D S@PGC). With this strategy, the sulfur content of the composites can be tuned to a high level (up to 90?wt%). Because of the high sulfur content, the nanoscale distribution of the sulfur particles, and the covalent bonding between the sulfur and the PGC, the developed 3D S@PGC cathodes exhibit excellent performance, with a high sulfur utilization, high specific capacity (1,382, 1,242 and 1,115?mA?h?g(-1) at 0.5, 1 and 2 C, respectively), long cycling life (small capacity decay of 0.039% per cycle over 1,000 cycles at 2 C) and excellent rate capability at a high charge/discharge current.

SUBMITTER: Li G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4740444 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature