title: Sulfur-carbon nanocomposite cathodes improved by an amphiphilic block copolymer for high-rate lithium-sulfur batteries.
abstract: A sulfur-carbon nanocomposite consisting of a commercial high-surface-area carbon (i.e., Black Pearls 2000, BET surface area >1000 m² g⁻¹) and sulfur has been synthesized by an in situ deposition method. The nanocomposite is in the form of agglomerated nanoparticles, with the micropores within the carbon filled with sulfur and the mesopores on the carbon surface almost completely covered by sulfur. The BET surface area of the nanocomposite containing a sulfur content of 63.5 wt % is significantly reduced to only 40 m² g⁻¹. Cathodes containing the nanocomposite and Pluronic F-127 block copolymer, which partially replaces the polyvinylidene fluoride binder, were prepared and evaluated in lithium cells by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling. The nanocomposite cathodes with the copolymer show improved electrochemical stability and cyclability. The Pluronic copolymer helps retain a uniform nanocomposite structure within the electrodes, improving the electrochemical contact, which was manifested by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The sulfur-Black Pearls nanocomposite with the Pluronic copolymer as an additive in the electrodes is promising for high-rate rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries.
authors.affiliation: Electrochemical Energy Laboratory & Materials Science and Engineering Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Yongzhu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Arumugam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manthiram
mesh_terms: D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007477:Ions; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D013455:Sulfur; D008094:Lithium