The rechargeable aluminum-sulfur (Al-S) battery is a promising next generation electrochemical energy storage system owing to its high theoretical capacity of 1672 mAh g −1 and in combining low-cost and naturally abundant elements, Al and S. However, to date, its poor reversibility and low lifespan have limited its practical application. In this paper, a composite cathode is reported for Al-S batteries based on S anchored on a carbonized HKUST-1 matrix (S@HKUST-1-C). The S@HKUST-1-C composite maintains a reversible capacity of 600 mAh g −1 at the 75th cycle and a reversible capacity of 460 mAh g −1 at the 500th cycle under a current density of 1 A g −1 , with a Coulombic efficiency of around 95%. X-ray diffraction and Auger spectrum results reveal that the Cu in HKUST-1 forms S-Cu ionic clusters. This serves to facilitate the electrochemical reaction and improve the reversibility of S during charge/discharge. Additionally, Cu increases the electron conductivity at the carbon matrix/S interface to significantly decrease the kinetic barrier for the conversion of sulfur species during battery operation.
The rechargeable aluminium-sulfur (Al-S) battery is regarded as a potential alternative beyond lithium-ion battery system owing to its safety, promising energy density, and the high earth abundance of the constituent electrode materials, however, sluggish kinetic response and short lifespan are the major issues that limit the battery development towards applications. In this article, we report Co II,III as an electrochemical catalyst in the sulfur cathode that renders a reduced discharge-charge voltage hysteresis and improved capacity retention and rate capability for Al-S batteries. The structural and electrochemical analysis suggest that the catalytic effect of Co II,III is closely associated with the formation of cobalt sulfides and the changes in the valence states of the Co II,III during the electrochemical reactions of the sulfur species, which lead to improved reaction kinetics and sulfur utilization in the cathode. The Al-S battery, assembled with the cathode consisting of Co II,III decorated carbon matrix, demonstrates a considerably reduced voltage hysteresis of 0.8 V, a reversible specific capacity of % 500 mAh g À1 at 1 A g À1 after 200 discharge-charge cycles and of % 300 mAh g À1 at 3 A g À1 .
The rechargeable aluminium-sulfur (Al-S) battery is regarded as a potential alternative beyond lithium-ion battery system owing to its safety, promising energy density, and the high earth abundance of the constituent electrode materials, however, sluggish kinetic response and short lifespan are the major issues that limit the battery development towards applications. In this article, we report Co II,III as an electrochemical catalyst in the sulfur cathode that renders a reduced discharge-charge voltage hysteresis and improved capacity retention and rate capability for Al-S batteries. The structural and electrochemical analysis suggest that the catalytic effect of Co II,III is closely associated with the formation of cobalt sulfides and the changes in the valence states of the Co II,III during the electrochemical reactions of the sulfur species, which lead to improved reaction kinetics and sulfur utilization in the cathode. The Al-S battery, assembled with the cathode consisting of Co II,III decorated carbon matrix, demonstrates a considerably reduced voltage hysteresis of 0.8 V, a reversible specific capacity of % 500 mAh g À1 at 1 A g À1 after 200 discharge-charge cycles and of % 300 mAh g À1 at 3 A g À1 .
Rechargeable aluminum-sulfur (AlÀ S) batteries are regarded as the potential choice for next-generation energy storage system with advantages of high theoretical energy density (1340 Wh kg À 1 ), the earth abundance of the constituent electrode materials, and safe operation. Whereas the electrochemical performance of AlÀ S batteries is beset by its poor reversibility. In this article, we demonstrate a highly reversible AlÀ S battery with Al 2 S 3 as the cathode. Mechanistic studies with electrochemical and spectroscopic methodologies identified [a] Y.
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