Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multifunctional hollow spheres as sulfur hosts for high-performance Li–S batteries

  • Energy materials
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For solving the problems of the poor electronic conductivity and volume change of sulfur particles, the shuttle effect of the soluble polysulfides, we design multifunctional host materials for the element sulfur by using hollow graphene and SnO2 composite spheres (HGSn). In this multifunctional host materials, graphene can significantly improve the electronic conductivity and the hollow sphere structure of HGSn proved by TEM can buffer the volume change of the discharge and charge products. Moreover, HGSn could provide physical adsorption and chemical affinity by forming C=S bond and S–Sn–O bond to greatly alleviate the polysulfide shuttle effect, which were represented by UV–Vis and FT-IR spectra, respectively. As a result, the as-prepared HGSn/S electrodes exhibit good electrochemical performance with high sulfur loading of 2.25 mg cm−2. The discharge specific capacity is 706.82 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles and 604.93 mAh g−1 after 350 cycles at 0.2C, and the capacity retention is 80.90% and 69.37% with average capacity attenuation of 0.096% and 0.088% for each cycle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Larcher D, Tarascon JM (2015) Towards greener and more sustainable batteries for electrical energy storage. Nat Chem 7(1):19–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Natarajan S, Aravindan V (2018) Recycling strategies for spent Li-ion battery mixed cathodes. ACS Energy Lett 3(9):2101–2103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Winslow KM, Laux SJ, Townsend TG (2018) A review on the growing concern and potential management strategies of waste lithium-ion batteries. Resour Conserv Recycl 129:263–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhong Y, Chao D, Deng S, Zhan J, Fang R, Xia Y, Wang Y, Wang X, Xia X, Tu J (2018) Confining sulfur in integrated composite scaffold with highly porous carbon fibers/vanadium nitride arrays for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Adv Func Mater 28(38):1706391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen W, Lei T, Qian T, Lv W, He W, Wu C, Liu X, Liu J, Chen B, Yan C (2018) A new hydrophilic binder enabling strongly anchoring polysulfides for high-performance sulfur electrodes in lithium–sulfur battery. Adv Energy Mater 8(12):1702889

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kong L, Li BQ, Peng HJ, Zhang R, Xie J, Huang JQ, Zhang Q (2018) Porphyrin-derived graphene-based nanosheets enabling strong polysulfide chemisorption and rapid kinetics in lithium–sulfur batteries. Adv Energy Mater 8(20):1800849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu H, Li Y, Ren J, Rao D, Zheng Q, Zhou L, Lin D (2019) CNT-assembled dodecahedra core@ nickel hydroxide nanosheet shell enabled sulfur cathode for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Nano Energy 55:82–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhou F, Li Z, Luo X, Wu T, Jiang B, Lu L-L, Yao H-B, Antonietti M, Yu S-H (2018) Low cost metal carbide nanocrystals as binding and electrocatalytic sites for high performance Li–S batteries. Nano Lett 18(2):1035–1043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hernández-Rentero C, Córdoba R, Moreno N, Caballero A, Morales J, Olivares-Marín M, Gómez-Serrano V (2018) Low-cost disordered carbons for Li/S batteries: a high-performance carbon with dual porosity derived from cherry pits. Nano Res 11(1):89–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yang W, Yang W, Song A, Sun G, Shao G (2017) 3D interconnected porous carbon nanosheets/carbon nanotubes as a polysulfide reservoir for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Nanoscale 10(2):816–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang X-Q, He B, Li W-C, Lu A-H (2018) Hollow carbon nanofibers with dynamic adjustable pore sizes and closed ends as hosts for high-rate lithium–sulfur battery cathodes. Nano Res 11(3):1238–1246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. He J, Hartmann G, Lee M, Hwang GS, Chen Y, Manthiram A (2019) Freestanding 1T MoS2/graphene heterostructures as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for lithium polysulfides in Li–S batteries. Energy Environ Sci 12:344–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fang R, Zhao S, Sun Z, Wang DW, Cheng HM, Li F (2017) More reliable lithium–sulfur batteries: status, solutions and prospects. Adv Mater 29(48):1606823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. You Y, Ye Y, Wei M, Sun W, Tang Q, Zhang J, Chen X, Li H, Xu J (2019) Three-dimensional MoS2/rGO foams as efficient sulfur hosts for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Chem Eng J 355:671–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang M, Fan L, Wu X, Tian D, Cheng J, Qiu Y, Wu H, Guan B, Zhang N, Sun K (2017) Hierarchical mesoporous SnO2 nanosheets on carbon cloth toward enhancing the polysulfides redox for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Mater Chem A 5(37):19613–19618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Li G, Wang X, Seo MH, Li M, Ma L, Yuan Y, Wu T, Yu A, Wang S, Lu J (2018) Chemisorption of polysulfides through redox reactions with organic molecules for lithium–sulfur batteries. Nat Commun 9(1):705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jeong YC, Kim JH, Nam S, Park CR, Yang SJ (2018) Rational design of nanostructured functional interlayer/separator for advanced Li–S batteries. Adv Funct Mater 28(38):1707411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhang SS (2012) Effect of discharge cutoff voltage on reversibility of lithium/sulfur batteries with LiNO3-contained electrolyte. J Electrochem Soc 159(7):A920–A923

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang Y, Sahadeo E, Rubloff G, Lin C-F, Lee SB (2019) High-capacity lithium sulfur battery and beyond: a review of metal anode protection layers and perspective of solid-state electrolytes. J Mater Sci 54(5):3671–3693. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-3093-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ma L, Zhang W, Wang L, Hu Y, Zhu G, Wang Y, Chen R, Chen T, Tie Z, Liu J (2018) Strong capillarity chemisorption, and electrocatalytic capability of crisscrossed nanostraws enabled flexible, high-rate, and long-cycling lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Nano 12(5):4868–4876

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cha E, Patel MD, Park J, Hwang J, Prasad V, Cho K, Choi W (2018) 2D MoS2 as an efficient protective layer for lithium metal anodes in high-performance Li–S batteries. Nat Nanotechnol 13(4):337–344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Park GD, Jung DS, Lee J-K, Kang YC (2019) Pitch-derived yolk–shell-structured carbon microspheres as efficient sulfur host materials and their application as cathode material for Li–S batteries. Chem Eng J 373:382–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tan L, Li X, Wang Z, Guo H, Wang J (2018) Lightweight reduced graphene oxide@ MoS2 interlayer as polysulfide barrier for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 10(4):3707–3713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Li P, Deng J, Li J, Guo J, Zeng M, Wang L, Wang R, Tang M (2019) Bifunctional interlayer for capturing polysulfide in Li–S battery. J Mater Sci 54(18):11983–11990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03755-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Tang H, Yao S, Xue S, Liu M, Chen L, Jing M, Shen X, Li T, Xiao K, Qin S (2018) In-situ synthesis of carbon@ Ti4O7 non-woven fabric as a multi-functional interlayer for excellent lithium–sulfur battery. Electrochimica Acta 263:158–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Zheng B, Yu L, Zhao Y, Xi J (2019) Ultralight carbon flakes modified separator as an effective polysulfide barrier for lithium–sulfur batteries. Electrochimica Acta 295:910–917

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Jiang G, Zheng N, Chen X, Ding G, Li Y, Sun F, Li Y (2019) In-situ decoration of MOF-derived carbon on nitrogen-doped ultrathin MXene nanosheets to multifunctionalize separators for stable Li–S batteries. Chem Eng J 373:1309–1318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. He J, Chen Y, Manthiram A (2018) Vertical Co9S8 hollow nanowall arrays grown on Celgard separator as a multifunctional polysulfide barrier for high-performance Li–S batteries. Energy Environ Sci. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE00893K

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Jiang H, Liu XC, Wu Y, Shu Y, Gong X, Ke FS, Deng H (2018) Metal–organic frameworks for high charge–discharge rates in lithium–sulfur batteries. Angew Chem Int Ed 57(15):3916–3921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang J, Li Z, Chen Y, Gao S, Lou XW (2018) Nickel–iron layered double hydroxide hollow polyhedrons as a superior sulfur host for lithium–sulfur batteries. Angew Chem Int Ed 57(34):10944–10948

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Xu J, Zhang W, Chen Y, Fan H, Su D, Wang G (2018) MOF-derived porous N–Co3 O4@ N–C nanododecahedra wrapped with reduced graphene oxide as a high capacity cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Mater Chem A 6(6):2797–2807

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tang H, Yang J, Zhang G, Liu C, Wang H, Zhao Q, Hu J, Duan Y, Pan F (2018) Self-assembled N-graphene nanohollows enabling ultrahigh energy density cathode for Li–S batteries. Nanoscale. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NR06731C

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Chen M, Lu Q, Jiang S, Huang C, Wang X, Wu B, Xiang K, Wu Y (2018) MnO2 nanosheets grown on the internal/external surface of N-doped hollow porous carbon nanospheres as the sulfur host of advanced lithium–sulfur batteries. Chem Eng J 335:831–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen K, Sun Z, Fang R, Shi Y, Cheng HM, Li F (2018) Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon anchored on graphene with multifunctional effects for lithium–sulfur batteries. Adv Func Mater 28(38):1707592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Xiao Q, Wang K, Wang X, Huang S, Cai N, Li N (2020) Solvent-free template synthesis of SnO2/C hybrid hollow spheres for superior lithium–sulfur batteries. Mater Chem Phys 239:122070

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Li P, Deng J, Li J, Wang L, Guo J (2019) Hollow graphene spheres coated separator as an efficient trap for soluble polysulfides in Li–S battery. Ceram Int 45(10):13219–13224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Li M, Zhang Y, Bai Z, Liu WW, Liu T, Gim J, Jiang G, Yuan Y, Luo D, Feng K (2018) A lithium–sulfur battery using a 2D current collector architecture with a large-sized sulfur host operated under high areal loading and low E/S ratio. Adv Mater 30(46):1804271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Luo L, Qin X, Wu J, Liang G, Li B (2018) An interwoven MoO3@CNT scaffold interlayer for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. J Mater Chem A 6(18):8612–8619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Cao B, Li D, Hou B, Mo Y, Yin L, Chen Y (2016) Synthesis of double-shell SnO2@ C hollow nanospheres as sulfur/sulfide cages for lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 8(41):27795–27802

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFB0104204).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Material Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, China

    Pengyu Li, Jianna Deng, Jing Li, Min Zeng, Lige Wang & Jianqiang Guo

Authors
  1. Pengyu Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jianna Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Min Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lige Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jianqiang Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing Li.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 433 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, P., Deng, J., Li, J. et al. Multifunctional hollow spheres as sulfur hosts for high-performance Li–S batteries. J Mater Sci 55, 3964–3973 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04251-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04251-8

Search

Navigation