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A novel three-dimensional sulfur/graphene/carbon nanotube composite prepared by a hydrothermal co-assembling route as binder-free cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries

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Abstract

A novel sulfur/graphene/carbon nanotube (S/GN/CNT) composite was successfully prepared by a facile hydrothermal co-assembling route. When used as cathode for lithium–sulfur battery, the S/GN/CNT composite can be pressed directly onto nickel foam without binder and conductive additive, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process. The resulting S/GN/CNT composite exhibited high and stable-specific discharge capacities of 670 mAh g−1 after 80 cycles at 0.2 C and good rate capability. This enhanced electrochemical performance could be attributed to the combinative effects of GN and CNT, which not only function as a flexible conductive matrix, favoring the ion transport and electrolyte diffusion, but also for provide a porous three-dimensional architecture with open channels to effectively confine the soluble polysulfides.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the financial supports of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21301140 and 21061130551), the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (Nos. 2012JQ6019 and 2013JM2009), and the Xi’an Industrial Technology Innovation Project-technology transfer promoting program (No. CXY1438-7).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Technology and Functional Materials (Culture Base), National Photoelectric Technology and Functional Materials & Application International Cooperation Base, Physics Department, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, People’s Republic of China

    Guanghui Yuan, Gang Wang & Jintao Bai

  2. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ankang University, Ankang, 725000, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Guanghui Yuan

  3. Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, People’s Republic of China

    Hui Wang

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  1. Guanghui Yuan
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  2. Gang Wang
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  3. Hui Wang
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  4. Jintao Bai
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Correspondence to Hui Wang or Jintao Bai.

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Yuan, G., Wang, G., Wang, H. et al. A novel three-dimensional sulfur/graphene/carbon nanotube composite prepared by a hydrothermal co-assembling route as binder-free cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Nanopart Res 17, 36 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2789-0

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