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From defects to charge conjugation: a combined approach to analyze sulfur-assisted exfoliation of graphite for its application in a lithium–sulfur battery cathode

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Abstract

The sulfur-assisted exfoliation of graphite was done in a planetary ball milling. A detailed study with varying milling times, of the Sulfur/exfoliated composite, is presented. Raman spectroscopy was applied to study the carbon material present in the composite. Various parameters like crystallite size (La = 33), band ratios (I2D/IG = 0.55, ID/IG = 1.12), FWHM, etc., emphasises the successful exfoliation of graphite into few-layer exfoliated graphite material. The deconvolution of the d002 peak into two components of the X-ray diffraction pattern solidifies the sulfur impregnation and intercalation in the composite with a high degree of the amorphous layered carbon structure. The XRD analysis is in line with the Raman spectroscopy findings (La = 37). The sulfur present in the composite was analysed with the DSC, where various aspects of sulfur and sulfur-EG interaction were discussed. Various thermodynamic quantities (∆H, ΔCp) were extracted from this study to fully understand the sulfur-EG interface. Three to four-layer graphene has been produced with a high amount of sulfur in it which makes it a suitable option for its application in the conversion type cathode of lithium-ion battery. The milling time is also a key factor that determines the quality of layered material and so the composite. This composite material is cost-effective and environment-friendly. We have used it as a cathode for lithium–sulfur battery and found an initial capacity of 1550 mAh/g which is discussed with its electrochemical performance.

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Acknowledgements

The author wants to acknowledge the facilities provided by the Sophisticated Instrument Center at Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar for the characterization and the National Center for Photovoltaic Research and Education for its support in electrochemical measurements under the Photovoltaic Users Mentorship Programme (PUMP).

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  1. Department of Physics, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, M.P., 470003, India

    Sunil Soni, Ranveer Kumar, Anubha Sodhiya & Shwetambar Patel

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  1. Sunil Soni
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SS: conceptualization of the work, the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data. Original draft and correspondence. RK: conceptualization and approved the version to be published. AS, SP: investigation.

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Correspondence to Sunil Soni.

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Soni, S., Kumar, R., Sodhiya, A. et al. From defects to charge conjugation: a combined approach to analyze sulfur-assisted exfoliation of graphite for its application in a lithium–sulfur battery cathode. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 23375–23389 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-09099-4

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