Biomass derived activated carbon with 3D connected architecture for rechargeable lithium−sulfur batteries

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 116; pp. 146 - 151
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jun, Xiang, Jiayuan, Dong, Zimin, Liu, Ya, Wu, Yishan, Xu, Chunmei, Du, Gaohui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 10.01.2014
• Subjects: Biomass carbon; Cathodes; Discharge; Electric batteries; Lithium; Lithium batteries; Lithium sulfur batteries; Lithium sulfur battery; Meso/microporous carbon foam; Nanostructure; Sulfur; Sulfur cathode; Sulfur-carbon composite; Three dimensional; Meso/microporous carbon foam; Sulfur-carbon composite; Sulfur cathode; Lithium sulfur battery; Biomass carbon
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2013.11.035

•3D structured activated carbon foam (ACF) was derived from biomass−pomelo peels•The ACF was used as binder free cathode supporter for rechargeable Li−S batteries•The cathode with 60 wt% sulfur delivered a reversible capacity of > 1000 mAh g−1•Capacity > 700mAh g−1 at 2C rate was exhibit for the cathode•High porosity and 3D structure of theACFcontribute to its excellent performance We report herein a three-dimensional structured carbon material as the cathode supporter for rechargeable lithium−sulfur batteries. Highly porous activated carbon foam (ACF) with micromesoporosity has been synthesized through carbonizing pomelo peel and activating by KOH. Elemental sulfur has been loaded to the micropores through a solution infiltration method to form a S/ACF nanocomposite. The resulted S/ACF nanocomposite with 60% sulfur has been tested as novel cathodes for Li−S batteries. The S/ACF nanocomposite showed an initial discharge capacity of 1258 mAh g−1 at 0.2C rate. After 100 cycles of charge/discharge, the S/ACF nanocomposite retained a high specific capacity of 750 mAh g−1 with a Coulombic efficiency of 96%. The material delivered a capacity of more than 700 mAh g−1 at 2C rate and can be recovered to 880 mAh g−1 when the rate is returned to 0.2C. The results show that the ACF with 3D connected structure could be a promising binder-free cathode supporter for rechargeable Li−S battery with high specific energy.