Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries
Lithium-sulfur technology is a strong candidate for the future generation of batteries due to its high specific capacity (1675 mAh g<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow>...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/14/2149 |
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| author | Roberto Colombo Daniele Versaci Julia Amici Federico Bella Maria Laura Para Nadia Garino Marco Laurenti Silvia Bodoardo Carlotta Francia |
| author_facet | Roberto Colombo Daniele Versaci Julia Amici Federico Bella Maria Laura Para Nadia Garino Marco Laurenti Silvia Bodoardo Carlotta Francia |
| author_sort | Roberto Colombo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lithium-sulfur technology is a strong candidate for the future generation of batteries due to its high specific capacity (1675 mAh g<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>), low cost, and environmental impact. In this work, we propose a facile and solvent-free microwave synthesis for a composite material based on doped (sulfur and nitrogen) reduced graphene oxide embedded with zinc sulfide nanoparticles (SN-rGO/ZnS) to improve the battery performance. The chemical-physical characterization (XRD, XPS, FESEM, TGA) confirmed the effectiveness of the microwave approach in synthesizing the composite materials and their ability to be loaded with sulfur. The materials were then thoroughly characterized from an electrochemical point of view (cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling, Tafel plot, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Li<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>S deposition test); the SN-rGO/ZnS/S<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>8</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> cathode showed a strong affinity towards polysulfides, thus reducing their loss by diffusion and improving redox kinetics, allowing for faster LiPSs conversion. In terms of performance, the composite-based cathode increased the specific capacity at high rate (1 C) from 517 to 648 mAh g<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>. At the same time, more stable behavior was observed at 0.5 C with capacity retention at the 750th cycle, where it was raised from 32.5% to 48.2%, thus confirming the beneficial effect of the heteroatomic doping process and the presence of zinc sulfide nanoparticles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:46:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed5edd9055424e6b8915193753fa0ea3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:46:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed5edd9055424e6b8915193753fa0ea32023-11-18T20:46:44ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-07-011314214910.3390/nano13142149Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S BatteriesRoberto Colombo0Daniele Versaci1Julia Amici2Federico Bella3Maria Laura Para4Nadia Garino5Marco Laurenti6Silvia Bodoardo7Carlotta Francia8Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyLithium-sulfur technology is a strong candidate for the future generation of batteries due to its high specific capacity (1675 mAh g<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>), low cost, and environmental impact. In this work, we propose a facile and solvent-free microwave synthesis for a composite material based on doped (sulfur and nitrogen) reduced graphene oxide embedded with zinc sulfide nanoparticles (SN-rGO/ZnS) to improve the battery performance. The chemical-physical characterization (XRD, XPS, FESEM, TGA) confirmed the effectiveness of the microwave approach in synthesizing the composite materials and their ability to be loaded with sulfur. The materials were then thoroughly characterized from an electrochemical point of view (cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling, Tafel plot, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Li<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>S deposition test); the SN-rGO/ZnS/S<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>8</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> cathode showed a strong affinity towards polysulfides, thus reducing their loss by diffusion and improving redox kinetics, allowing for faster LiPSs conversion. In terms of performance, the composite-based cathode increased the specific capacity at high rate (1 C) from 517 to 648 mAh g<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>. At the same time, more stable behavior was observed at 0.5 C with capacity retention at the 750th cycle, where it was raised from 32.5% to 48.2%, thus confirming the beneficial effect of the heteroatomic doping process and the presence of zinc sulfide nanoparticles.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/14/2149reduced graphene oxidelithium-sulfur batterycatalytic materialzinc-sulfide nanoparticlesmicrowave synthesis |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Colombo Daniele Versaci Julia Amici Federico Bella Maria Laura Para Nadia Garino Marco Laurenti Silvia Bodoardo Carlotta Francia Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries Nanomaterials reduced graphene oxide lithium-sulfur battery catalytic material zinc-sulfide nanoparticles microwave synthesis |
| title | Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries |
| title_full | Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries |
| title_fullStr | Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries |
| title_short | Reduced Graphene Oxide Embedded with ZnS Nanoparticles as Catalytic Cathodic Material for Li-S Batteries |
| title_sort | reduced graphene oxide embedded with zns nanoparticles as catalytic cathodic material for li s batteries |
| topic | reduced graphene oxide lithium-sulfur battery catalytic material zinc-sulfide nanoparticles microwave synthesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/14/2149 |
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