Novel nanosized adsorbing composite cathode materials for the next generational lithium battery

Abstract

A novel carbon-sulfur nano-composite material was synthesized by heating sublimed sulfur and high surface area activated carbon (HSAAC) under certain conditions. The physical and chemical performances of the novel carbon-sulfur nano-composite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical performances of nano-composite were characterized by charge-discharge characteristic, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental results indicate that the electrochemical capability of nano-composite material was superior to that of traditional S-containing composite material. The cathode made by carbon-sulfur nano-composite material shows a good cycle ability and a high specific charge-discharge capacity. The HSAAC shows a vital role in adsorbing sublimed sulfur and the polysulfides within the cathode and is an excellent electric conductor for a sulfur cathode and prevents the shuttle behavior of the lithium-sulfur battery.

Keywords

high surface area activated carbon / sublimed sulfur / lithium battery / composite material / adsorbing composite

References

[1] Marmorstein D., Yu T. H., Striebel K. A., McLarnon F. R., Hou J., Cairns E. J. Electrochemical Performance of Lithium/Sulfur Cells with Three Different Polymer Electrolytes[J]. J. Power Sources, 2000, 89(2): 219-226.

[2] Jeon B. H., Yeon J. H., Kim K. M., . Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of Lithium-sulfur Polymer Batteries [J]. J. Power Sources, 2002, 109(1): 89-97.

[3] S J Visco. The Development of Reversible Lithium Electrodes for Advanced Li/S Batteries[C]. In:Proceedings of 3rd Hawaii Battery Conference, Kono Hawaii, USA: 2001. 349–374

[4] Petr N., Klaus M., Santhanam K. S. V., Otto H. Electrochemically Active Polymers for Rechargeable Batteries[J]. Chem. Rev., 1997, 97: 207-281.

[5] Rauch R. D., Abraham K. M., Pearson G. F., . A Lithium/Dissolved Sulfur Battery with an Organic Electrolyte[J]. J. Electrochem Soc., 1979, 126(4): 523-527.

[6] Oyama N., Pope J. M., Sotomura T. Effects of Adding Copper (I) Salt to Organo Sulfur Cathodes for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries[J]. J. electrochem Soc., 1997, 144(4): L47-L51.

[7] Naoi K., Kawase K., Mori M., . Electrochemistry of Poly (2,2-dithiodianiline): A New Class of High Energy Conducting Polymer Interconnected with S-S Bonds[J]. J. Electrochem. Soc., 1997, 144(96): 173-175.

[8] Ardel G., Golodnitsky D., Freedman K., Peled E., ppetecchi G. B., Romagnoli P., Scrosati B. Rechargeable Lithium/Hybrid-electrolyte/Pyrite Battery[J]. J. Power Sources, 2002, 110(1): 152-162.

[9] Chung J.-S., Sohn H.-J. Electrochemical Behaviors of CuS as a Cathode Material for Lithium Secondary Batteries[J]. J. Power Sources, 2002, 108(2): 226-231.

[10] Gorkovenko, Lexander, T Skotheim. Method of Forming Cathodes Comprising Electroactive Sulfur Materials[P]. US Patent 06406814. 2002-6-18

[11] Appetecchi G. B., Alessandrini F., Carewska M., . Investigation on Lithium-polymer Electrolyte Batteries [J]. J. Power Sources., 2001, 7(97–98): 790-794.