Kombucha SCOBY-based carbon and graphene oxide wrapped sulfur/polyacrylonitrile as a high-capacity cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries

Abstract

Hierarchically-porous carbon nano sheets were prepared as a conductive additive for sulfur/polyacrylonitrile (S/PAN) composite cathodes using a simple heat treatment. In this study, kombucha (that was derived from symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) carbon (KC) and graphene oxide (GO) were used as a carbon host matrix. These rational-designed S/PAN/KC/GO hybrid composites greatly suppress the diffusion of polysulfides by providing strong physical and chemical adsorption. The cathode delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1652 mAh·g⁻¹ at a 0.1 C rate and a 100^th cycle capacity of 1193 mAh·g⁻¹. The nano sheets with embedded hierarchical pores create a conductive network that provide effective electron transfer and fast electrochemical kinetics. Further, the nitrogen component of PAN can raise the affinity/interaction of the carbon host with lithium polysulfides, supporting the cyclic performance. The results exploit the cumulative contribution of both the conductive carbon matrix and PAN in the enhanced performance of the positive electrode.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

sulfur cathode / kombucha SCOBY / graphene oxide / polyacrylonitrile / lithium-sulfur battery

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Acknowledgements

All the authors from Alagappa University acknowledge the financial support by DST-SERB, New Delhi under the Physical sciences, grant sanctioned vide EMR/2016/006302. Also, all the authors gratefully acknowledge for extending the analytical facilities in the Department of Physics, Alagappa University under the PURSE and FIST programme, sponsored by Department of Science and Technology (DST), BSR of University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, Government of India and Ministry of Human Resource Development RUSA-Phase 2.0 grant sanctioned vide Lt.No.F-24-51/2014 U Policy (TNMulti Gen), Department of Education, Government of India.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1897-x and is accessible for authorized users.

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