Efficient Ni2Co4P3 Nanowires Catalysts Enhance Ultrahigh‐Loading Lithium–Sulfur Conversion in a Microreactor‐Like Battery. (22nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Zihan; Cao, Mengqiu; Zhang, Zili; Pu, Jun; Zhong, Chenglin; Li, Jiachen; Ma, Haixia; Li, Fujun; Zhu, Jia; Pan, Feng; Zhang, Huigang
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 30:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-10-22
• Subjects: catalysis -- lithium–sulfur batteries -- microreactors -- Ni2Co4P3 nanowire arrays -- polysulfide adsorption; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201906661
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: High‐loading lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries suffer from poor electrochemical properties. Electrocatalysts can accelerate polysulfides conversion and suppress their migration to improve battery cyclability. However, catalysts for Li–S batteries usually lack a rational design. A d‐band tuning strategy is reported by alloying cobalt to metal sites of Ni2 P to enhance the interaction between polysulfides and catalysts. A molecular or atomic level analysis reveals that Ni2 Co4 P3 is able to weaken the SS bonds and lower the activation energy of polysulfides conversion, which is confirmed with temperature‐dependent experiments. Ni2 Co4 P3 nanowires are further fabricated on a porous nickel scaffold to unfold the catalytic activity by its large surface area. Using a simple ion‐selective filtration shell, a microreactor‐like S cathode (MLSC) is constructed to realize ultrahigh S loading (25 mg cm −2 ). As such, a microreactor design integrates reaction and separation in one cell and can effectively address the polysulfide issues, the MLSC cell demonstrates excellent properties of cyclability and high capacity (1223 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C). More importantly, the catalyst's designs and microreactor strategies provide new approaches for addressing the complicated issues of Li–S batteries. Abstract : Ni2 Co4 P3 nanowire catalysts, depending on a d‐band tuning strategy by alloying cobalt to metal sites of Ni2 P, enhance the interaction between polysulfides and catalysts. A microreactor‐like sulfur cathode is also constructed for ultrahigh sulfur loading and exhibits superior lithium storage performances.