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Preparation of yolk-shell sulfur/carbon nanocomposite via an organic solvent route for lithium–sulfur batteries

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Abstract

A yolk-shell sulfur/carbon (S/C) composite for the cathode of lithium–sulfur batteries was successfully prepared by an accessible method with tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The as-prepared composites are characterized by thermal gravimetric, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption and desorption. In this composite, sulfur particle is encapsulated in the carbon shell even entering into the micropores of carbon Bp2000. The electrochemical performance of the S/C composites is evaluated. The results indicate that the S/C composite with 50 wt% sulfur content shows good reversibility, excellent rate capability, and slow degradation. It delivers an initial capacity of 784.4 mAh g−1 (based on sulfur weight) and preserves at 598.3 mAh g−1 after 195 cycles at 1C. It achieves a high-capacity retention of 76.27 % from the 5th to 200th cycle, and as high as 91.19 % during the latter 150 cycles. The improvement is mainly attributed to the favorable structure of the S/C composite, in which the carbon cannot only facilitate transport of electrons and Li+ ions but also trap polysulfides and retard the shuttle effect during charge/discharge process.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2009CB220105), the international cooperation program with Germany (2012DFG61480), the international cooperation program with France (2011DFA70570-4), and The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2013AA050901).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Weijin Road 92#, Tianjin, 300072, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoyan Liu, Kunlei Zhu, Jianhua Tian, Qiwei Tang & Zhongqiang Shan

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  1. Xiaoyan Liu
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  2. Kunlei Zhu
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  3. Jianhua Tian
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  4. Qiwei Tang
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  5. Zhongqiang Shan
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Correspondence to Zhongqiang Shan.

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Liu, X., Zhu, K., Tian, J. et al. Preparation of yolk-shell sulfur/carbon nanocomposite via an organic solvent route for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Solid State Electrochem 18, 2077–2085 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2450-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2450-y

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