Title: Graphene oxide as a sulfur immobilizer in high performance lithium/sulfur cells

Abstract

The loss of sulfur cathode material as a result of polysulfide dissolution causes significant capacity fading in rechargeable lithium/sulfur cells. Embodiments of the invention use a chemical approach to immobilize sulfur and lithium polysulfides via the reactive functional groups on graphene oxide. This approach obtains a uniform and thin (.about.tens of nanometers) sulfur coating on graphene oxide sheets by a chemical reaction-deposition strategy and a subsequent low temperature thermal treatment process. Strong interaction between graphene oxide and sulfur or polysulfides demonstrate lithium/sulfur cells with a high reversible capacity of 950-1400 mAh g.sup.-1, and stable cycling for more than 50 deep cycles at 0.1 C.

Inventors:

Zhang, Yuegang; Cairns, Elton J.; Ji, Liwen; Rao, Mumin

Issue Date:

2017-12-26

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1414938

Patent Number(s):

9,853,284

Application Number:

15/498,113

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

DOE Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2017 Apr 26

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE