One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors
Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are postulated as next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices due to their increased storage capabilities. However, challenges persist from the polysulfide-shuttle effect at the cathode. Soluble sulfur-based species in the cathode cross over to the lithium...
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MDPI AG
2017-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/4/1/2 |
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| author | James Guo Sheng Moo Ahmad Omar Tony Jaumann Steffen Oswald Juan Balach Sebastian Maletti Lars Giebeler |
| author_facet | James Guo Sheng Moo Ahmad Omar Tony Jaumann Steffen Oswald Juan Balach Sebastian Maletti Lars Giebeler |
| author_sort | James Guo Sheng Moo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are postulated as next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices due to their increased storage capabilities. However, challenges persist from the polysulfide-shuttle effect at the cathode. Soluble sulfur-based species in the cathode cross over to the lithium anode through the separator leading to fading capacity with cycling. This has spurred continuous effort by the scientific community to develop novel cathodes where sulfur species can affix better. A conductive nanostructured graphene network is a suitable candidate that can serve as a scaffold for holding sulfur nanoparticles. Here, a one-pot synthesis of chemically reduced graphene oxide networks prepared from easily accessible graphene oxide is demonstrated. The solution-based method simply allows for impregnation of the graphene oxide network with sulfur nanoparticles through a careful manipulation of pH of the chemical environment. Two routes were chosen for the precipitation of such sulfur nanoparticles: firstly, the dissolution of sulfur in sodium hydroxide into polysulfides followed by acidification and secondly, the acidification of sodium thiosulfate from alkaline media into sulfur nanoparticles. Both graphene oxide materials from the two routes were treated with sodium borohydride to achieve conductive graphene. The second route, with the sulfur nanoparticles derived from the acidification of sodium thiosulfate with chemically reduced graphene oxide, demonstrated favorable electrochemical behavior, showing promise as electrode material for Li-S batteries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:42:29Z |
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| issn | 2311-5629 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:42:29Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a1637adf6a4744fc90911582143fcaff2022-12-21T22:59:24ZengMDPI AGC2311-56292017-12-0141210.3390/c4010002c4010002One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur PrecursorsJames Guo Sheng Moo0Ahmad Omar1Tony Jaumann2Steffen Oswald3Juan Balach4Sebastian Maletti5Lars Giebeler6Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, SingaporeInstitute for Complex Materials, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069 Dresden, GermanyInstitute for Complex Materials, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069 Dresden, GermanyInstitute for Complex Materials, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069 Dresden, GermanyDepartment of Chemistry, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto-CONICET, X5804ZAB Río Cuarto, ArgentinaInstitute for Complex Materials, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069 Dresden, GermanyInstitute for Complex Materials, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW), 01069 Dresden, GermanyLithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are postulated as next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices due to their increased storage capabilities. However, challenges persist from the polysulfide-shuttle effect at the cathode. Soluble sulfur-based species in the cathode cross over to the lithium anode through the separator leading to fading capacity with cycling. This has spurred continuous effort by the scientific community to develop novel cathodes where sulfur species can affix better. A conductive nanostructured graphene network is a suitable candidate that can serve as a scaffold for holding sulfur nanoparticles. Here, a one-pot synthesis of chemically reduced graphene oxide networks prepared from easily accessible graphene oxide is demonstrated. The solution-based method simply allows for impregnation of the graphene oxide network with sulfur nanoparticles through a careful manipulation of pH of the chemical environment. Two routes were chosen for the precipitation of such sulfur nanoparticles: firstly, the dissolution of sulfur in sodium hydroxide into polysulfides followed by acidification and secondly, the acidification of sodium thiosulfate from alkaline media into sulfur nanoparticles. Both graphene oxide materials from the two routes were treated with sodium borohydride to achieve conductive graphene. The second route, with the sulfur nanoparticles derived from the acidification of sodium thiosulfate with chemically reduced graphene oxide, demonstrated favorable electrochemical behavior, showing promise as electrode material for Li-S batteries.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/4/1/2lithium-sulfur batterygrapheneelectrochemistrysynthesiselectrochemical energy storagecomposite |
| spellingShingle | James Guo Sheng Moo Ahmad Omar Tony Jaumann Steffen Oswald Juan Balach Sebastian Maletti Lars Giebeler One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors C lithium-sulfur battery graphene electrochemistry synthesis electrochemical energy storage composite |
| title | One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors |
| title_full | One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors |
| title_fullStr | One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors |
| title_full_unstemmed | One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors |
| title_short | One-Pot Synthesis of Graphene-Sulfur Composites for Li-S Batteries: Influence of Sulfur Precursors |
| title_sort | one pot synthesis of graphene sulfur composites for li s batteries influence of sulfur precursors |
| topic | lithium-sulfur battery graphene electrochemistry synthesis electrochemical energy storage composite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/4/1/2 |
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