Clout of carbon in polyacrylonitrile/sulfur composite cathode via solution processing technique for lithium-sulfur batte
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Clout of carbon in polyacrylonitrile/sulfur composite cathode via solution processing technique for lithium-sulfur batteries Krishnaveni Kalaiappan1 · Subadevi Rengapillai1 · Sivakumar Marimuthu1
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract A bamboo-like carbon scaffold poly (acrylonitrile) (PAN)–sulfur–composite electrode was prepared by a solution-processing technique. The Kombucha scoby derived carbon (KC) contains ample meso porous nature which is not only for anchoring active sulfur but also preventing the dissolution of polysulfides during the cycling process. A PAN–sulfur–carbon cathode made with 56 wt% sulfur loading delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1444 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C rate with 98% of Coulombic efficiency and high capacity retention of 1044 mAh g− 1 during the 60th cycle due to its peculiar morphology of the prepared composite cathode material obtained by solution processing technique. Keywords Mesoporous · Sulfur cathode · Kombucha scoby · Polyacrylonitrile · Solution processing
1 Introduction Over three historical eras the world has witnessed a great deal of issues related to energy and environmental [1]. The increasing demand of fossil fuels and deteriorating climatic conditions call for an immediate switch to renewable and green energy technologies [2, 3]. Rechargeable lithium batteries with high energy density, rate capability and cycle life are a natural choice [4–6]. Li–S batteries, with an energy density of 2600 Wh g −1, are touted as future portable power sources, especially for high-drain applications such as power tools and electric vehicles [7–14]. However, commercialization of Li–S batteries is hindered by low utilization and rapid capacity decay of the sulfur electrode, which are attributed to (1) poor electrical conductivity of sulfur (5 × 10−30 s/cm at 25 °C) [15, 16], (2) volumetric changes during the cycling process [17], and (3) shuttling of dissolved polysulfides in the electrolyte. Conductive carbon additive is one of the host materials to improve the electrochemical performance of the lithium sulfur battery. The chemical interaction between the nitrile * Sivakumar Marimuthu [email protected]; [email protected] 1
Energy Materials Lab, Department of Physics, Science Block, Alagappa University, #120, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu 630003, India
group of Polyacrylonitrile and lithium polysulfides aids to boost the specific capacity and excellent Coulombic efficiency [18]. One approach to circumvent these challenges is to employ carbon-based materials, such as porous carbons [19–21], carbon nanotubes [22–24], graphene [25, 26], and graphene oxides [27, 28], as effective shields for sulfur cathodes in Li–S batteries. Due to its surface area, good electrical conductivity, chemical stability and low cost, activated carbons from organic precursors with proper activation processes are widely used as electrode materials for rechargeable batteries [29, 30]. Also, the unique porous structure of conductive carbon materials act as a
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