Novel Strategy for the Formulation of High‐Energy‐Density Cathodes via Porous Carbon for Li‐S Batteries

• Published in: ChemSusChem Vol. 16; no. 10; pp. e202202009 - n/a
• Main Authors: Kim, Dae‐Seong, Woo, Sang‐Gil, Kang, Cheon‐Ju, Lee, Ju‐Hee, Lee, Je‐Nam, Yu, Ji‐Sang, Kim, Young‐Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 19-05-2023
• Subjects: Carbon; Cathodes; Electrode materials; Electrode polarization; Electrodes; energy storage; lithium−sulfur batteries; mesoporous materials; Sulfur; lithium−sulfur batteries; energy storage; carbon; mesoporous materials; electrode materials
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202202009
• EISSN: 1864-564X
• ISSN: 1864-5631

Porous carbon is considered an attractive host material for high‐energy sulfur electrodes. This study concerns the design of a porous carbon‐based sulfur electrode for the formulation of high‐energy Li−S batteries. The porous carbon is impregnated with up to 80 vol.% of sulfur and a reduction in both the conductive agent and binder content. Therefore, less solvent can be used during slurry casting to inhibit crack formation following electrode drying. In addition, the utilization of two distinct electrically conducting networks enables reduced battery polarization, resulting in a battery with a capacity of 690 mAh g−1 (even after 100 cycles). Finally, pouch cells are prepared to characterize the practical performance of the optimized cathode. This yields a capacity of 741 mAh and a cathode energy density of 1001 Wh kg−1. These findings are expected to guide the further development of high‐energy‐density cathode materials for Li−S batteries.
Get in the C: A micro‐scale active material is prepared by infiltrating sulfur into porous carbon material, and by combining carbon nanotubes and carbon black to increase sulfur content. The active material is incorporated into a lithium−sulfur battery with high‐energy and enhanced electron conductivity.