Ball-milling synthesis of ZnO@sulphur/carbon nanotubes and Ni(OH)2@sulphur/carbon nanotubes composites for high-performance lithium-sulphur batteries. (1st April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gu, Xingxing; Tong, Chuan-jia; Wen, Bo; Liu, Li-min; Lai, Chao; Zhang, Shanqing
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 196(2016)
• Page Start: 369
• Page End: 376
• Publication Date: 2016-04-01
• Subjects: Lithium-sulphur batteries -- Zinc oxide -- Nickel hydroxide -- Coating; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.03.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Highlights: Metal oxides or hydroxides coating sulfur-based composite are successfully prepared. Large-scale synthesis can be realized via the facile wet ball-milling strategy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation is applied to calculate adsorption energy. ZnO exhibits a higher adsorption energy for Li2 S8 than that Ni(OH)2 . ZnO@sulphur/carbon nanotubes composite show excellent cycle and discharge performance. Abstract: Zinc oxide wrapped sulphur/carbon nanotubes (ZnO@S/CNT) and nickel hydroxide wrapped sulphur/carbon nanotubes (Ni(OH)2 @S/CNT) nanocomposites are prepared using a simple, low cost and scalable ball-milling method. As the cathodes in Li-S batteries, the as-prepared ZnO@S/CNT composite illustrates a superior high initial capacity of 1663 mAh g −1 at a charge/discharge rate of 160 mA g −1, and maintains a reversible capacity at approximately 942 mAh g −1 after 70 cycles. While for Ni(OH)2 @S/CNT composites, its initial capacity is also as high as 1331 mAh g −1, but a poorer cycling stability is presented. When the charge/discharge current is increased to 1600 mA g −1, a high reversible capacity of 698 mAh g −1 after 200 cycles still can be obtained for the ZnO@S/CNT composite, far better than that of Ni(OH)2 @S/CNT composites. The better cycling performance and high discharge capacity can be attributed to the strong interactions between ZnO and S x 2− species, which is verified by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation result that the ZnO exhibits a higher adsorption energy for Li2 S8 than the Ni(OH)2 .