TiO/GO-coated functional separator to suppress polysulfide migration in lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries render a high energy density but suffer from poor cyclic performance due to the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides. Herein, a lightweight nanoporous TiO and graphene oxide (GO) composite is prepared and utilized as an interlayer between a Li anode and a sulfur cathode to suppress the polysulfide migration and improve the electrochemical performance of Li/S batteries. The interlayer can capture the polysulfides due to the presence of oxygen functional groups and formation of chemical bonds.

TiO/Porous Carbon Composite-Decorated Separators for Lithium/Sulfur Battery.

The practical application of lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries is hindered by the migration of soluble polysulfides (LiS, 4 ≤ n ≤ 8) from cathode to anode, leading to poor electrochemical stability of the cell. To address this issue, in the present study, a TiO/porous carbon (TiO/PC) composite-coated Celgard 2400 separator was successfully fabricated and used as a polysulfide barrier for the Li/S battery. In TiO/PC, the highly conductive PC with three-dimensional ordered porous structure physically constrains polysulfides and at the same time serves as an additional upper current collector.

Synthesis of a Flexible Freestanding Sulfur/Polyacrylonitrile/Graphene Oxide as the Cathode for Lithium/Sulfur Batteries.

Rechargeable lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries have received quite significant attention over the years because of their high theoretical specific capacity (1672 mAh·g) and energy density (2600 mAh·g) which has led to more efforts for improvement in their electrochemical performance. Herein, the synthesis of a flexible freestanding sulfur/polyacrylonitrile/graphene oxide (S/PAN/GO) as the cathode for Li/S batteries by simple method via vacuum filtration is reported. The S/PAN/GO hybrid binder-free electrode is considered as one of the most promising cathodes for Li/S batteries.

Ternary Sulfur/Polyacrylonitrile/SiO₂ Composite Cathodes for High-Performance Sulfur/Lithium Ion Full Batteries.

In the present study, a novel sulfur/lithium-ion full battery was assembled while using ternary sulfur/polyacrylonitrile/SiO₂ (S/PAN/SiO₂) composite as the cathode and prelithiated graphite as the anode. For anode, Stabilized Lithium Metal Powder (SLMP) was successfully transformed into lithiated graphite anode. For cathode, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that SiO₂ was uniformly distributed on S/PAN composites, where SiO₂ served as an effective additive due to its ultra high absorb ability and enhanced ability in trapping soluble polysulfide.

Polyacrylonitrile-Nanofiber-Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Novel Aqueous Sodium-Ion Battery Based on a Na₄Mn₉O Cathode and Zn Metal Anode.

A gel polymer electrolyte was formed by trapping an optimized Na⁺/Zn mixed-ion aqueous electrolyte in a polyacrylonitrile nanofiber polymer matrix. This electrolyte was used in a novel aqueous sodium-ion battery (ASIB) system, which was assembled by using a zinc anode and Na₄Mn₉O cathode. The nanorod-like Na₄Mn₉O was synthesized by a hydrothermal soft chemical reaction.

A porous 3D-RGO@MWCNT hybrid material as Li-S battery cathode.

In this work, a unique three-dimensional (3D) structured carbon-based composite was synthesized. In the composite, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) form a lattice matrix in which porous spherical reduced graphene oxide (RGO) completes the 3D structure. When used in Li-S batteries, the 3D porous lattice matrix not only accommodates a high content of sulfur, but also induces a confinement effect towards polysulfide, and thereby reduces the "shuttle effect".

Preparation of ZnO Nanorods/Graphene Composite Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

ZnO is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs); however, its practical application is hindered primarily by its large volume variation upon lithiation. To overcome this drawback, we synthesized ZnO/graphene composites using the combination of a simple hydrothermal reaction and spray drying. These composites consisted of well-dispersed ZnO nanorods anchored to graphene.

Two-Dimensional CeO/RGO Composite-Modified Separator for Lithium/Sulfur Batteries.

In this work, a modified separator coated with a functional layer of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) anchored by cerium oxide (CeO) nanoparticles was developed. The superior conductivity of RGO and chemical immobilization of high-ordered sulfur-related species (mainly LiS 4 ≤ n ≤ 8) of CeO yielded batteries with enhanced characteristics. A remarkable original capacity of 1136 mAh g was obtained at 0.

Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of Pomegranate-Shaped FeO/C Anodes for Li-ion Batteries.

Due to the severe volume expansion and poor cycle stability, transition metal oxide anode is still not meeting the commercial utilization. We herein demonstrate the synthetic method of core-shell pomegranate-shaped FeO/C nano-composite via one-step hydrothermal process for the first time. The electrochemical performances were measured as anode material for Li-ion batteries.

A 3D MoS₂/Graphene Microsphere Coated Separator for Excellent Performance Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are the most prospective energy storage devices. Nevertheless, the poor conductivity of sulfur and the shuttling phenomenon of polysulfides hinder its application. In this paper, flower-like MoS₂/graphene nanocomposite is prepared and deposited on a multi-functional separator to enhance the electrochemical behavior of Li-S batteries.

A PPy/ZnO functional interlayer to enhance electrochemical performance of lithium/sulfur batteries.

To enhance the electrochemical performance of the lithium/sulfur batteries, a novel interlayer was prepared by coating the slurry of PPy/ZnO composite onto the surface of a separator. Owing to a three-dimensional hierarchical network structure, PPy/ZnO composite serves as a polysulfide diffusion absorbent that can intercept the migrating soluble polysulfides to enhance the electrochemical performance of the Li/S batteries. The specific capacity of the cell with PPy/ZnO interlayer remained at 579 mAh g after 100 cycles at 0.

Three-Dimensional S/CeO₂/RGO Composites as Cathode Materials for Lithium⁻Sulfur Batteries.

In this paper, the synthesis of the three-dimensional (3D) composite of spherical reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with uniformly distributed CeO₂ particles is reported. This synthesis is done via a facile and large-scalable spray-drying process, and the CeO₂/RGO materials are hydrothermally compounded with sulfur. The morphology, composition, structure, and electrochemical properties of the 3D S/CeO₂/RGO composite are studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc.

High Electrochemical Performance of Nanotube Structured ZnS as Anode Material for Lithium⁻Ion Batteries.

By using ZnO nanorods as an ideal sacrificial template, one-dimensional (1-D) ZnS nanotubes with a mean diameter of 10 nm were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. The phase composition and microstructure of the ZnS nanotubes were characterized by using XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron micrograph), and TEM (transmission electronic microscopy) analysis. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nitrogen sorption isotherms measurements were also used to study the information on the surface chemical compositions and specific surface area of the sample.

Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Porous Structure of PPy/Porous-Graphene to Encapsulate Polysulfides for Lithium/Sulfur Batteries.

Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of a three-dimensional (3D) polypyrrole-coated-porous graphene (PPy/PG) composite through in-situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer on PG surface. The PPy/PG displays a 3D hierarchical porous structure and the resulting PPy/PG hybrid serves as a conductive trap to lithium polysulfides enhancing the electrochemical performances. Owing to the superior conductivity and peculiar structure, a high initial discharge capacity of 1020 mAh g and the reversible capacity of 802 mAh g over 200 cycles are obtained for the S/PPy/PG cathode at 0.

Three-dimensionally ordered macro/mesoporous TiO matrix to immobilize sulfur for high performance lithium/sulfur batteries.

A three-dimensionally (3D) ordered macro-/mesoporous TiO (3DOM-mTiO) was synthesized via a simple solvothermal process. 3DOM-mTiO was used as a sulfur carrier for cathode materials in a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery. The orderly interconnected macro and mesopores structure within the macropore walls yield a large pore volume and high specific surface area in 3DOM-mTiO, which improved the sulfur loading capacity of the material.

Novel Sulfur/Ethylenediamine-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite as Cathode Material for High-performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Sulfur/ethylenediamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (S/EDA-RGO) nanocomposites were synthesized using a simple process. Ethylenediamine (EDA) was employed as both the reducing agent and the modification component. The morphologies, microstructures, and compositions of S/EDA-RGO composites were characterized by various detection techniques.

Three-Dimensionally Hierarchical Graphene Based Aerogel Encapsulated Sulfur as Cathode for Lithium/Sulfur Batteries.

A simple and effective method was developed to obtain the electrode for lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries with high specific capacity and cycling durability via adopting an interconnected sulfur/activated carbon/graphene (reduced graphene oxide) aerogel (S/AC/GA) cathode architecture. The AC/GA composite with a well-defined interconnected conductive network was prepared by a reduction-induced self-assembly process, which allows for obtaining compact and porous structures. During this process, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was formed, and due to the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups on its surface, it not only improves the electronic conductivity of the cathode but also effectively inhibits the polysulfides dissolution and shuttle.

Biomass Derived Nitrogen-Doped Highly Porous Carbon Material with a Hierarchical Porous Structure for High-Performance Lithium/Sulfur Batteries.

A novel nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon (NMPC) with a hierarchical porous structure is prepared by simple carbonizing the green algae, which is applied as a host material to encapsulate sulfur for lithium/sulfur (Li/S) battery. The NMPC exhibits high pore volume as well as large specific surface area, and thus sulfur content in the S/NMPC composite reaches up to 63 wt %. When tested in a Li/S battery, the S/NMPC composite yields a high initial capacity of 1327 mAh·g as well as 757 mAh·g after 100 cycles at a current rate of 0.

Biomass Waste Inspired Highly Porous Carbon for High Performance Lithium/Sulfur Batteries.

The synthesis of highly porous carbon (HPC) materials from poplar catkin by KOH chemical activation and hydrothermal carbonization as a conductive additive to a lithium-sulfur cathode is reported. Elemental sulfur was composited with as-prepared HPC through a melt diffusion method to form a S/HPC nanocomposite. Structure and morphology characterization revealed a hierarchically sponge-like structure of HPC with high pore volume (0.