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Porous carbon nanotubes improved sulfur composite cathode for lithium-sulfur battery

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Abstract

Porous multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PCNTs) with multiple mesopores structure are synthesized through activation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by potassium hydroxide. The potassium hydroxide activation process results in a significantly enhanced specific surface area with numerous small pores. The as-obtained PCNTs are employed as the conductive matrix for sulfur in the sulfur cathode. Compared with the composite sulfur cathode based on the original MWCNTs, the sulfur-PCNTs cathode shows a significantly improved cycle performance and columbic efficiency. The reversible capacity is 530 mAh g−1 and columbic efficiency is 90 % after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. The improvement in the electrochemical performance for S-PCNT is mainly attributed to the enlarged surface area and the porous structure of the unique mesopores carbon nanotube host, which cannot only facilitate transport of electrons and Li+ ions, but also trap polysulfides, retard the shuttle effect during charge/discharge process.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50825203, 21273087 and 20803042), the 863 program (Grant No. 2011AA11290 and 2011DFB70020), and the PCSIRT (Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University). In addition, the authors thank Analytical and Testing Center of Huazhong University of Science and Technology for providing SEM, XRD, TG/DTA, and Raman spectra measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die and Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Min He, Li-Xia Yuan, Wu-Xing Zhang & Yun-Hui Huang

  2. School of Science, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China

    Min He

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  1. Min He
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  2. Li-Xia Yuan
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  3. Wu-Xing Zhang
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  4. Yun-Hui Huang
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Correspondence to Li-Xia Yuan or Yun-Hui Huang.

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He, M., Yuan, LX., Zhang, WX. et al. Porous carbon nanotubes improved sulfur composite cathode for lithium-sulfur battery. J Solid State Electrochem 17, 1641–1647 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-013-2023-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-013-2023-5

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