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Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of MWCNT-Intercalated Silica/Sulfur Composite Cathode for Rechargeable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

  • Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage
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Abstract

Sulfur (S)/silicon dioxide (SiO2)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) ternary composites with potential application in high-performance lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been prepared by a heat treatment method. The S/SiO2/MWCNT composite with MWCNT content of 20 wt.% exhibited efficient electrochemical performance for use as a cathode in Li-S batteries, with initial discharge capacity of 926 mAh g−1 and coulombic efficiency of 99% at 0.2 C rate. A discharge capacity of 501 mAh g−1 was observed after 300 cycles with a decay rate of 0.15% per cycle. The average capacity retention was found to be 81.7% and 54.1% after 100 cycles and 300 cycles, respectively. These results demonstrate that a high content of MWCNT improved the electronic conductivity while the SiO2/MWCNT matrix represents a strong physical and chemical host for the polysulfides and active material. This study determines the combined effect of silica and MWCNT to improve the performance of the sulfur cathode.

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Acknowledgements

All the authors from Alagappa University acknowledge financial support from DST-SERB, New Delhi under the Physical sciences Grant sanctioned vide EMR/2016/006302. Also, all the authors gratefully acknowledge the provision of analytical facilities by the Department of Physics, Alagappa University under the PURSE and FIST programme, sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Special Assistance Programme (SAP) sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, Govt. of India and Ministry of Human Resource Development RUSA- Phase 2.0 Grant sanctioned vide Lt.No.F-24-51/2014 U Policy (TNMulti Gen), Dept. of Education, Govt. of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. #120, Energy Materials Lab, Department of Physics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 003, India

    Rajkumar Palanisamy, Diwakar Karuppiah, Subadevi Rengapillai & Sivakumar Marimuthu

  2. Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India

    Gnanamuthu Ramasamy

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, People’s Republic of China

    Mozaffar Abdollahifar

  4. Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, People’s Republic of China

    Fu-Ming Wang

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  1. Rajkumar Palanisamy
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  3. Subadevi Rengapillai
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All the authors contributed equally in terms of framing, planning, and executing this research work, analysis, and writing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Subadevi Rengapillai or Sivakumar Marimuthu.

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Palanisamy, R., Karuppiah, D., Rengapillai, S. et al. Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of MWCNT-Intercalated Silica/Sulfur Composite Cathode for Rechargeable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries. JOM 72, 2260–2268 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-020-04165-w

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