Preparation and electrochemical performance of sulfur-alumina cathode material for lithium-sulfur batteries

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2013.02.031· OSTI ID:22341672

Dong, Kang ^[1]; Wang, Shengping ^[1]; Zhang, Hanyu; Wu, Jinping ^[1]

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1. Faculty of Material Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, 430074 Wuhan (China)

Highlights: ► Micron-sized alumina was synthesized as adsorbent for lithium-sulfur batteries. ► Sulfur-alumina material was synthesized via crystallizing nucleation. ► The Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} can provide surface area for the deposition of Li{sub 2}S and Li{sub 2}S{sub 2}. ► The discharge capacity of the battery is improved during the first several cycles. - Abstract: Nano-sized sulfur particles exhibiting good adhesion with conducting acetylene black and alumina composite materials were synthesized by means of an evaporated solvent and a concentrated crystallization method for use as the cathodes of lithium-sulfur batteries. The composites were characterized and examined by X-ray diffraction, environmental scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical methods, such as cyclic voltammetry, electrical impedance spectroscopy and charge–discharge tests. Micron-sized flaky alumina was employed as an adsorbent for the cathode material. The initial discharge capacity of the cathode with the added alumina was 1171 mAh g{sup −1}, and the remaining capacity was 585 mAh g{sup −1} after 50 cycles at 0.25 mA cm{sup −2}. Compared with bare sulfur electrodes, the electrodes containing alumina showed an obviously superior cycle performance, confirming that alumina can contribute to reducing the dissolution of polysulfides into electrolytes during the sulfur charge–discharge process.

• OSTI ID: 22341672
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 48, Issue 6; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ACETYLENE
ADHESION
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATHODES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTALLIZATION
DEPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
LITHIUM SULFIDES
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
NANOSTRUCTURES
PARTICLES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLVENTS
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR
SYNTHESIS
VOLTAMETRY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION