Sulfur confined MXene hosts enabling the use of carbonate-based electrolytes in alkali metal (Li/Na/K)-sulfur batteries. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pai, Rahul; Natu, Varun; Sokol, Maxim; Carey, Michael; Greszler, Thomas; Barsoum, Michel W.; Kalra, Vibha
• Is Part Of: Materials today energy. Volume 27(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Energy -- 2D -- Intercalation -- Chalcogen -- Carbides; Energy development -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Energy development; Energy industries; Energy policy; Power resources; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2022.101000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-6069

Abstract

Abstract: Room-temperature alkali metal–sulfur batteries are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries because of their high capacity and low inherent cost. Herein, we report MXene (Ti3 C2 Tx) as a host to confine sulfur (S8 ), enabling the use of commercialization-friendly carbonate electrolyte in metal–sulfur batteries. The multilayer MXene structure provides tunable spacing for S8 confinement, and its unique interlayer spacing prevents adverse polysulfide-carbonate reactions. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Confinement of sulfur in DHT-intercalated MXene (DMX) via thermal treatment. Expansion of MXene interlayer gap for efficient S loading and confinement to enable the use of carbonate electrolyte. Atomically thin, metallically conductive MXene sheets improve sulfur utilization in between the layers. The rationally designed DMX/sulfur cathode delivers outstanding electrochemical performance with alkali anodes (Li/Na/K).