A mesoporous carbon–sulfur composite as cathode material for high rate lithium sulfur batteries

• Published in: Materials research bulletin Vol. 58; pp. 199 - 203
• Main Authors: Choi, Hyunji, Zhao, Xiaohui, Kim, Dul-Sun, Ahn, Hyo-Jun, Kim, Ki-Won, Cho, Kwon-Koo, Ahn, Jou-Hyeon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2014
• Subjects: A. Composite; B. Chemical synthesis; C. Electrochemical measurements; CAPACITY; CARBON; CATHODES; D. Electrochemical properties; D. Energy storage; ELECTROCHEMISTRY; ENCAPSULATION; ENERGY STORAGE; HEAT TREATMENTS; HEATING; LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; NANOSTRUCTURES; POTENTIALS; REDOX REACTIONS; RETENTION; SULFUR; SURFACES; SYNTHESIS; A. Composite; B. Chemical synthesis; D. Electrochemical properties; C. Electrochemical measurements; D. Energy storage
• ISSN: 0025-5408; 1873-4227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2014.03.023

[Display omitted] •CMK-3 mesoporous carbon was synthesized as conducting reservoir for housing sulfur.•Sulfur/CMK-3 composites were prepared by two-stage thermal treatment.•The composite at 300°C for 20h shows improved electrochemical properties. Sulfur composite was prepared by encapsulating sulfur into CMK-3 mesoporous carbon with different heating times and then used as the cathode material for lithium sulfur batteries. Thermal treatment at 300°C plays an important role in the sulfur encapsulation process. With 20h of heating time, a portion of sulfur remained on the surface of carbon, whereas with 60h of heating time, sulfur is confined deeply in the small pores of carbon that cannot be fully exploited in the redox reaction, thus causing low capacity. The S/CMK-3 composite with thermal treatment for 40h at 300°C contained 51.3wt.% sulfur and delivered a high initial capacity of 1375mAhg−1 at 0.1C. Moreover, it showed good capacity retention of 704mAhg−1 at 0.1C and 578mAhg−1 at 2C even after 100 cycles, which proves its potential as a cathode material for high capability lithium sulfur batteries.