title: Rational Design of Cathode Structure for High Rate Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.
abstract: Practical applications of Li-S batteries require not only high specific capacities and long cycle lifetimes but also high rate performance. We report a rationally designed Li-S cathode, which consists of a freestanding composite thin film assembled from S nanoparticles, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and a multifunctional additive poly(anthraquinonyl sulfide) (PAQS). The S nanoparticles provide a high initial specific capacity, and the layered and porous rGO structure provides electron and ion transport paths and restricts polysulfide shuttling. PAQS is not only a highly efficient sulfide trapping agent but also an excellent Li(+) conductor, which benefits the battery reaction kinetics at a high rate. The resulting cathode exhibits an initial specific capacity of 1255 mAh g(-1) with a decay rate as low as 0.046% per cycles over 1200 cycles. Importantly, it displays a reversible capacity of 615 mAh g(-1) when discharged at a high rate of 8 C (13.744 A g(-1)).
authors.affiliation: †i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: †i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: §Key Laboratory of Nanodevices and Applications, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Shengqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: ∥Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors.forename: Jinlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: †i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: †i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Li−S battery; free-standing cathode; poly(anthraquinonyl sulfide) (PAQS); rate performance; reduced graphene oxide (rGO); sulfur trapping agent