Sulfur Confined in Sub-Nanometer-Sized 2 D Graphene Interlayers and Its Electrochemical Behavior in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.
Microspace-confined sulfur molecules as cathodes for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have shown great significance in both scientific and technical aspects. A study of different microspace-confined sulfur will not only promote the advancement of Li-S batteries but also arouse a wide interest in sulfur chemistry and related applications. Herein, we choose two-dimensional (2D) graphene interlayer as host and construct 2D space-confined sulfur model systems by simple intercalation chemistry of graphite oxide. Two routes, including solvothermal method and interlamellar reaction approach, are developed, and sulfur can be easily intercalated into sub-nanometer-sized graphene interlayers, forming a graphene confined sulfur structure. The 2D space-confined sulfur can work well in a carbonate-based electrolyte and show similar electrochemical behaviors of small sulfur molecules, indicating the special molecular form of sulfur in graphene layers. The 2D space-confined sulfur concept will be helpful for further understanding the electrochemical character of confined sulfur molecules and designing a high-performance sulfur cathode.
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology and, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China.
Wen-Cheng
WC
Du
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology and, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China.
Juan
J
Zhang
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology and, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P.R. China.
Ya-Xia
YX
Yin
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology and, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China.
Yu-Guo
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0322-8476
YG
Guo
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology and, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P.R. China.
Li-Jun
LJ
Wan
batteries; graphene; lithium; nanocomposite; sulfur