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Cationic polymer-grafted graphene oxide/CNT cathode-coating material for lithium-sulfur batteries
Daun Jeong1, Dong Gi Hong1, Jinsol Yook1
1School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University Seoul 08826 Republic of Korea jongchan@snu.ac.kr.
RSC Advances
|April 28, 2022
Summary
A novel cathode coating using cationic polymer-grafted graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes significantly boosts lithium-sulfur battery performance by reducing polysulfide shuttle effects. This advanced material enhances capacity retention and overall cell efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries offer high theoretical energy density but suffer from the polysulfide shuttle effect, hindering their practical application.
- Graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are explored for cathode materials due to their conductivity and surface properties.
- Cationic polymers can improve polysulfide adsorption, but their integration with cathode components needs optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel cathode coating material for Li-S batteries by combining cationic polymer-grafted graphene oxide (CPGO) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
- To investigate the synergistic effect of CPGO and CNTs in mitigating the polysulfide shuttle effect and enhancing Li-S battery performance.
- To improve the chemical adsorption of polysulfides and the compatibility with cathode materials like carbon black.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of CPGO via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of quaternized 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (QDMAEMA) onto graphene oxide (GO).
- Preparation of cathode coatings by mixing CPGO with CNTs.
- Fabrication and electrochemical testing of Li-S batteries using the developed cathode coatings, including capacity retention and cycling stability measurements.
Main Results:
- The CPGO/CNT cathode coating demonstrated significantly improved cell performance compared to bare cathodes, CPGO-only, and GO/CNT coatings.
- Li-S batteries with the CPGO/CNT cathode coating retained 744 mA h g-1 after 50 cycles at 0.2C, outperforming bare S/C (488 mA h g-1) and CPGO-S/C (641 mA h g-1) cathodes.
- The combination of CPGO and CNTs exhibited a synergistic effect, enhancing polysulfide adsorption and improving overall battery stability.
Conclusions:
- The developed CPGO/CNT cathode coating effectively suppresses the polysulfide shuttle effect in Li-S batteries.
- The synergistic interaction between CPGO and CNTs enhances electrochemical performance, including capacity retention and cycle life.
- This novel cathode coating strategy presents a promising approach for advancing high-performance lithium-sulfur battery technology.
