AI Chat Paper
Note: Please note that the following content is generated by AMiner AI. SciOpen does not take any responsibility related to this content.
{{lang === 'zh_CN' ? '文章概述' : 'Summary'}}
{{lang === 'en_US' ? '中' : 'Eng'}}
Chat more with AI
Powered by AMiner. Clicking this button will take you away from SciOpen.
Home Nano Research Article
Article Link
Cite
EndNote(RIS) BibTeX
Collect
Submit Manuscript
Show Outline
Outline
Show full outline
Hide outline
Outline
Show full outline
Hide outline
Research Article

In situ carbon nanotube clusters grown from three-dimensional porous graphene networks as efficient sulfur hosts for high-rate ultra-stable Li–S batteries

Shizhi Huang1, Lingli Zhang1, Jingyan Wang1, Jinliang Zhu1,2( ), Pei Kang Shen1( )
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy MaterialsCollaborative Innovation Center of Renewable Energy MaterialsState Key Laboratory of Processing for Non-ferrous Metal and Featured MaterialsGuangxi UniversityNanning530004China
School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringGuangxi UniversityNanning530004China
Show Author Information

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) clusters grown in situ in three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene networks (3DG-CNTs), with integrated structure and remarkable electronic conductivity, are desirable S host materials for Li–S batteries. 3DG-CNT exhibits a high surface area (1, 645 m2·g-1), superior electronic conductivity of 1, 055 S·m-1, and a 3D porous networked structure. Large clusters of CNTs anchored on the inner walls of 3D graphene networks act as capillaries, benefitting restriction of agglomeration by high contents of immersed S. Moreover, the capillary-like CNT clusters grown in situ in the pores efficiently form restricted spaces for Li polysulfides, significantly reducing the shuttling effect and promoting S utilization throughout the charge/discharge process. With an areal S mass loading of 81.6 wt.%, the 3DG-CNT/S electrode exhibits an initial specific capacity reaching 1, 229 mA·h·g-1 at 0.5 C and capacity decays of 0.044% and 0.059% per cycle at 0.5 and 1 C, respectively, over 500 cycles. The electrode material also reveals a remarkable rate performance and the large capacity of 812 mA·h·g-1 at 3 C.

Keywords

in situ growthcarbon nanotubethree-dimensional (3D) graphene porous networkLi–S battery

Electronic Supplementary Material

Download File(s)
12274_2017_1791_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (7.2 MB)

References

1

Yang, Y.; Zheng, G. Y.; Cui, Y. Nanostructured sulfur cathodes. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2013, 42, 3018-3032.
Crossref Google Scholar
2

Manthiram, A.; Fu, Y. Z.; Chung, S. H.; Zu, C. X.; Su, Y. S. Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries. Chem. Rev. 2014, 114, 11751-11787.
Crossref Google Scholar
3

Larcher, D.; Tarascon, J. M. Towards greener and more sustainable batteries for electrical energy storage. Nat. Chem. 2015, 7, 19-29.
Crossref Google Scholar
4

Sun, Y. M.; Liu, N.; Cui, Y. Promises and challenges of nanomaterials for lithium-based rechargeable batteries. Nat. Energy 2016, 1, 16071.
Crossref Google Scholar
5

Bruce, P. G.; Freunberger, S. A.; Hardwick, L. J.; Tarascon, J. M. Li-O2 and Li-S batteries with high energy storage. Nat. Mater. 2012, 11, 19-29.
Crossref Google Scholar
6

Zhu, J. L.; Li, Y. Y.; Kang, S.; Wei, X. L.; Shen, P. K. One-step synthesis of Ni3S2 nanoparticles wrapped with in situ generated nitrogen-self-doped graphene sheets with highly improved electrochemical properties in Li-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2014, 2, 3142-3147.
Crossref Google Scholar
7

Ji, X. L.; Nazar, L. F. Advances in Li-S batteries. J. Mater. Chem. 2010, 20, 9821-9826.
Crossref Google Scholar
8

Choi, S. H.; Ko, Y. N.; Lee, J. K.; Kang, Y. C. 3D MoS2-graphene microspheres consisting of multiple nanospheres with superior sodium ion storage properties. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2015, 25, 1780-1788.
Crossref Google Scholar
9

Fei, L. F.; Li, X. G.; Bi, W. T.; Zhuo, Z. W.; Wei, W. F.; Sun, L.; Lu, W.; Wu, X. J.; Xie, K. Y.; Wu, C. Z. et al. Graphene/sulfur hybrid nanosheets from a space-confined "sauna" reaction for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27, 5936-5942.
Crossref Google Scholar
10

Xiao, Z. B.; Yang, Z.; Wang, L.; Nie, H. G.; Zhong, M. E.; Lai, Q. Q.; Xu, X. J.; Zhang, L. J.; Huang, S. M. A lightweight TiO2/graphene interlayer, applied as a highly effective polysulfide absorbent for fast, long-life lithium-sulfur batteries. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27, 2891-2898.
Crossref Google Scholar
11

Zhu, L.; Peng, H. -J.; Liang, J. Y.; Huang, J. Q.; Chen, C. M.; Guo, X. F.; Zhu, W. C.; Li, P.; Zhang, Q. Interconnected carbon nanotube/graphene nanosphere scaffolds as free-standing paper electrode for high-rate and ultra-stable lithium-sulfur batteries. Nano Energy 2015, 11, 746-755.
Crossref Google Scholar
12

Ji, X. L.; Evers, S.; Black, R.; Nazar, L. F. Stabilizing lithium-sulphur cathodes using polysulphide reservoirs. Nat. Commun. 2011, 2, 325.
Crossref Google Scholar
13

Xi, K.; Kidambi, P. R.; Chen, R. J.; Cao, C. L.; Peng, X. Y.; Ducati, C.; Hofmann, S.; Kumar, R. V. Binder free three-dimensional sulphur/few-layer graphene foam cathode with enhanced high-rate capability for rechargeable lithium sulphur batteries. Nanoscale 2014, 6, 5746-5753.
Crossref Google Scholar
14

Li, G. X.; Sun, J. H.; Hou, W. P.; Jiang, S. D.; Huang, Y.; Geng, J. X. Three-dimensional porous carbon composites containing high sulfur nanoparticle content for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 10601.
Crossref Google Scholar
15

Fang, R. P.; Zhao, S. Y.; Hou, P. X.; Cheng, M.; Wang, S. G.; Cheng, H. M.; Liu, C.; Li, F. 3D interconnected electrode materials with ultrahigh areal sulfur loading for Li-S batteries. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 3374-3382.
Crossref Google Scholar
16

Li, Y. Y.; Li, Z. S.; Zhang, Q. W.; Shen, P. K. Sulfur-infiltrated three-dimensional graphene-like material with hierarchical pores for highly stable lithium-sulfur batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2014, 2, 4528-4533.
Crossref Google Scholar
17

Zhen, L.; Zhang, J. T.; Lou, X. W. Hollow carbon nanofibers filled with MnO2 nanosheets as efficient sulfur hosts for lithium-sulfur batteries. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 12866-12890.
Crossref Google Scholar
18

Choi, Y. J.; Jung, B. S.; Lee, D. J.; Jeong, J. H.; Kim, K. W.; Ahn, H. J.; Cho, K. K.; Gu, H. B. Electrochemical properties of sulfur electrode containing nano Al2O3 for lithium/sulfur cell. Phys. Scr. 2007, T129, 62-65.
Crossref Google Scholar
19

Seh, Z. W.; Li, W. Y.; Cha, J. J.; Zheng, G. Y.; Yang, Y.; McDowell, M. T.; Hsu, P. C.; Cui, Y. Sulphur-TiO2 yolk-shell nanoarchitecture with internal void space for long-cycle lithium-sulphur batteries. Nat. Commun. 2013, 4, 1331.
Crossref Google Scholar
20

Fanous, J.; Wegner, M.; Grimminger, J.; Andresen, Ä.; Buchmeiser, M. R. Structure-related electrochemistry of sulfur-poly(acrylonitrile) composite cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. Chem. Mater. 2011, 23, 5024-5028.
Crossref Google Scholar
21

Zhou, W. D.; Yu, Y. C.; Chen, H.; DiSalvo, F. J.; Abruña, H. D. Yolk-shell structure of polyaniline-coated sulfur for lithium-sulfur batteries. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 16736-16743.
Crossref Google Scholar
22

Guo, J. C.; Xu, Y. H.; Wang, C. S. Sulfur-impregnated disordered carbon nanotubes cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries. Nano Lett. 2011, 11, 4288-4294.
Crossref Google Scholar
23

Schuster, J.; He, G.; Mandlmeier, B.; Yim, T.; Lee, K. T.; Bein, T.; Nazar, L. F. Spherical ordered mesoporous carbon nanoparticles with high porosity for lithium-sulfur batteries. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 3591-3595.
Crossref Google Scholar
24

Ji, L. W.; Rao, M. M.; Zheng, H. M.; Zhang, L.; Li, Y. C.; Duan, W. H.; Guo, J. H.; Cairns, E. J.; Zhang, Y. G. Graphene oxide as a sulfur immobilizer in high performance lithium/ sulfur cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 18522-18525.
Crossref Google Scholar
25

Wang, H. L.; Yang, Y.; Liang, Y. Y.; Robinson, J. T.; Li, Y. G.; Jackson, A.; Cui, Y.; Dai, H. J. Graphene-wrapped sulfur particles as a rechargeable lithium-sulfur battery cathode material with high capacity and cycling stability. Nano Lett. 2011, 11, 2644-2647.
Crossref Google Scholar
26

Jin, F. Y.; Xiao, S.; Lu, L. J.; Wang, Y. Efficient activation of high-loading sulfur by small CNTs confined inside a large CNT for high-capacity and high-rate lithium-sulfur batteries. Nano Lett. 2016, 16, 440-447.
Crossref Google Scholar
27

Tang, C.; Zhang, Q.; Zhao, M. Q.; Huang, J. Q.; Cheng, X. B.; Tian, G. L.; Peng, H. J.; Wei, F. Nitrogen-doped aligned carbon nanotube/graphene sandwiches: Facile catalytic growth on bifunctional natural catalysts and their applications as scaffolds for high-rate lithium-sulfur batteries. Adv. Mater. 2014, 26, 6100-6105.
Crossref Google Scholar
28

Chen, R. J.; Zhao, T.; Lu, J.; Wu, F.; Li, L.; Chen, J. Z.; Tan, G. Q.; Ye, Y. S.; Amine, K. Graphene-based three-dimensional hierarchical sandwich-type architecture for high-performance Li/S batteries. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 4642-4649.
Crossref Google Scholar
29

Bae, S. H.; Karthikeyan, K.; Lee, Y. S.; Oh, I. K. Microwave self-assembly of 3D graphene-carbon nanotube-nickel nanostructure for high capacity anode material in lithium ion battery. Carbon 2013, 64, 527-536.
Crossref Google Scholar
30

Dichiara, A. B.; Sherwood, T. J.; Benton-Smith, J.; Wilson, J. C.; Weinstein, S. J.; Rogers, R. E. Free-standing carbon nanotube/graphene hybrid papers as next generation adsorbents. Nanoscale 2014, 6, 6322-6327.
Crossref Google Scholar
31

Wang, D. W.; Zeng, Q. C.; Zhou, G. M.; Yin, L. C.; Li, F.; Cheng, H. M.; Gentle, I. R.; Lu, G. Q. M. Carbon-sulfur composites for Li-S batteries: Status and prospects. J. Mater. Chem. A 2013, 1, 9382-9394.
Crossref Google Scholar
32

Zhang, C.; Liu, D. H.; Lv, W.; Wang, D. W.; Wei, W.; Zhou, G. M.; Wang, S. G.; Li, F.; Li, B. H.; Kang, F. Y. et al. A high-density graphene-sulfur assembly: A promising cathode for compact Li-S batteries. Nanoscale 2015, 7, 5592-5597.
Crossref Google Scholar
33

He, J. R.; Chen, Y. F.; Li, P. J.; Fu, F.; Wang, Z. G.; Zhang, W. L. Three-dimensional CNT/graphene-sulfur hybrid sponges with high sulfur loading as superior-capacity cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2015, 3, 18605-18610.
Crossref Google Scholar
34

Li, X. S.; Cai, W. W.; Colombo, L.; Ruoff, R. S. Evolution of graphene growth on Ni and Cu by carbon isotope labeling. Nano Lett. 2009, 9, 4268-4272.
Crossref Google Scholar
35

Nolan, P. E.; Lynch, D. C.; Cutler, A. H. Catalytic disproportionation of CO in the absence of hydrogen: Encapsulating shell carbon formation. Carbon 1994, 32, 477-483.
Crossref Google Scholar
36

Orofeo, C. M.; Ago, H.; Hu, B. S.; Tsuji, M. Synthesis of large area, homogeneous, single layer graphene films by annealing amorphous carbon on Co and Ni. Nano Res. 2011, 4, 531-540.
Crossref Google Scholar
37

Huang, S. Z.; Zhang, L. L.; Zhu, J. L.; Jiang, S. P.; Shen, P. K. Crumpled nitrogen-and boron-dual-self-doped graphene sheets as an extraordinary active anode material for lithium ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2016, 4, 14155-14162.
Crossref Google Scholar
38

Lillo-Ródenas, M. A.; Juan-Juan, J.; Cazorla-Amorós, D.; Linares-Solano, A. About reactions occurring during chemical activation with hydroxides. Carbon 2004, 42, 1371-1375.
Crossref Google Scholar
39

Andrews, R.; Jacques, D.; Qian, D.; Dickey, E. C. Purification and structural annealing of multiwalled carbon nanotubes at graphitization temperatures. Carbon 2001, 39, 1681-1687.
Crossref Google Scholar
40

Huang, S. Z.; Wang, J. Y.; Pan, Z. Y.; Zhu, J. L.; Shen, P. K. Ultrahigh capacity and superior stability of three-dimensional porous graphene networks containing in situ grown carbon nanotube clusters as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2017, 5, 7595-7602.
Crossref Google Scholar
41

Xu, W. G.; Mao, N. N.; Zhang, J. Graphene: A platform for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Small 2013, 9, 1206-1224.
Crossref Google Scholar
42

Ryu, Z. Y.; Zheng, J. T.; Wang, M. Z.; Zhang, B. J. Characterization of pore size distributions on carbonaceous adsorbents by DFT. Carbon 1999, 37, 1257-1264.
Crossref Google Scholar
43

Bao, W. Z.; Su, D. W.; Zhang, W. X.; Guo, X.; Wang, G. X. 3D metal carbide@mesoporous carbon hybrid architecture as a new polysulfide reservoir for lithium-sulfur batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2016, 26, 8746-8756.
Crossref Google Scholar
44

Wei, S. Y.; Ma, L.; Hendrickson, K. E.; Tu, Z. Y.; Archer, L. A. Metal-sulfur battery cathodes based on PAN-sulfur composites. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 12143-12152.
Crossref Google Scholar
45

Chen, S. Q.; Sun, B.; Xie, X. Q.; Mondal, A. K.; Huang, X. D.; Wang, G. X. Multi-chambered micro/mesoporous carbon nanocubes as new polysulfides reserviors for lithium-sulfur batteries with long cycle life. Nano Energy. 2015, 16, 268-280.
Crossref Google Scholar
46

Xu, J.; Su, D. W.; Zhang, W. X.; Bao, W. Z.; Wang, G. X. A nitrogen-sulfur co-doped porous graphene matrix as a sulfur immobilizer for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 17381-17393.
Crossref Google Scholar
47

Zhao, M. Q.; Zhang, Q.; Huang, J. Q.; Tian, G. L.; Nie, J. Q.; Peng, H. J.; Wei, F. Unstacked double-layer templated graphene for high-rate lithium-sulphur batteries. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 3410.
Crossref Google Scholar
48

Kim, J.; Lee, D. -J.; Jung, H. -G.; Sun, Y. -K.; Hassoun, J.; Scrosati, B. An advanced lithium-sulfur battery. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2013, 23, 1076-1080.
Crossref Google Scholar
49

Ye, H.; Yin, Y. -X.; Guo, Y. -G. Insight into the loading temperature of sulfur on sulfur/carbon cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries. Electrochim. Acta 2015, 185, 62-68.
Crossref Google Scholar
50

Zhang, J.; Yang, C. -P.; Yin, Y. -X.; Wan, L. -J.; Guo, Y. -G. Sulfur encapsulated in graphitic carbon nanocages for high-rate and long-cycle lithium-sulfur batteries. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 9539-9544.
Crossref Google Scholar
51

Du, W. -C.; Yin, Y. -X.; Zeng, X. -X.; Shi, J. -L.; Zhang, S. -F.; Wan, L. -J.; Guo, Y. -G. Wet chemistry synthesis of multidimensional nanocarbon-sulfur hybrid materials with ultrahigh sulfur loading for lithium-sulfur batteries. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 3584-3590.
Crossref Google Scholar
52

Yang, C. -P.; Yin, Y. -X.; Guo, Y. -G.; Wan, L. -J. Electrochemical (de)lithiation of 1D sulfur chains in Li-S batteries: A model system study. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 2215-2218.
Crossref Google Scholar
53

Xin, S.; Gu, L.; Zhao, N. -H.; Yin, Y. -X.; Zhou, L. -J.; Guo, Y. -G.; Wan, L. -J. Smaller sulfur molecules promise better lithium-sulfur batteries. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 18510-18513.
Crossref Google Scholar
54

Tang, C.; Li, B. -Q.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, L.; Wang, H. -F.; Shi, J. -L.; Wei, F. CaO-templated growth of hierarchical porous graphene for high-power lithium-sulfur battery applications. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2016, 26, 577-585.
Crossref Google Scholar
55

Su, D. W.; Cortie, M.; Wang, G. X. Fabrication of N-doped graphene-carbon nanotube hybrids from prussian blue for lithium-sulfur batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2017, 7, 1602014.
Crossref Google Scholar
Nano Research
Volume 11 Issue 3,
March 2018
Pages 1731-1743
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-017-1791-0
Cite this article:
Huang S, Zhang L, Wang J, et al. In situ carbon nanotube clusters grown from three-dimensional porous graphene networks as efficient sulfur hosts for high-rate ultra-stable Li–S batteries. Nano Research, 2018, 11(3): 1731-1743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1791-0

758

Views

46

Crossref

N/A

Web of Science

49

Scopus

4

CSCD

Altmetrics
Received: 16 April 2017
Revised: 04 August 2017
Accepted: 04 August 2017
Published: 02 February 2018
© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017
Return