3D Array of Bi₂S₃ Nanorods Supported on Ni Foam as a Highly Efficient Integrated Oxygen Electrode for the Lithium‐Oxygen Battery

Abstract

Bismuth sulfide nanorod array is directly grown on nickel foam (R‐Bi2S3/NF) to serve as a completely carbon and binder‐free 3D porous oxygen electrode material for lithium‐oxygen (Li‐O2) batteries. The synergistic effect of the fast kinetics of electron transport and gas and electrolyte diffusion provided by the continuous free‐standing network structure and the excellent electrocatalytic activity of the bismuth sulfide nanorod array enables outstanding performance of the oxygen electrode. Li‐O2 battery with the free‐standing R‐Bi2S3/NF oxygen electrode exhibits high energy efficiency (78.7%), good rate capability (4464 mA h g−1 at 1500 mA g−1), as well as excellent cyclability (146 cycles) while maintaining a moderate specific capacity of 1000 mA h g−1. The effect of cathodes with different reactant (O2) and intermediate (LiO2) adsorbability on the product (Li2O2) growth model is studied by first‐principle calculations. The strong O2 adsorption and weak LiO2 adsorption on Bi2S3 drives the growth of large‐size Li2O2 particles via solution growth model. Remarkably, the large‐area pouch‐type Li‐O2 battery delivers an energy density of 330 Wh kg−1. The present results open up a promising avenue toward developing novel electrode architecture for high‐performance Li‐O2 batteries through controlling morphology and functionality of porous electrodes.

A Bifunctional Photo‐Assisted Li–O2 Battery Based on a Hierarchical Heterostructured Cathode

“…[10][11][12] Other solid catalysts, including metal oxides/sulfides, are also employed for Li-O 2 cells, but their ability to reduce the charge voltage is not satisfactory. [13,14] Soluble redox mediators (RMs) have emerged as another alternative for effectively lowering the overpotential during electrochemical reactions. [15][16][17][18][19] However, their inherent instability, combined with the shuttle effect of RMs that exacerbates the corrosion and passivation of the Li anode, leads to poor cyclic performance.…”

Bi2S3/Ketjen Black as a Highly Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Long‐Cycle Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries

“…The pristine S 2p/Bi 4f spectrum can be fitted into three pairs of doublets due to the spin‐orbit coupling (Figure f). The main peaks located at 158.8 eV and 164.1 eV belong to the binding energy of Bi 4f 7/2 and Bi 4f 5/2 of Bi 2 S 3 , respectively, and the doublet at 159.9 eV and 165.2 eV can be denoted as Bi−O bond that generates from the native oxide of bismuth or the interaction of bismuth ions with the oxygen‐containing groups . In the third doublet, the two peaks located at 161.4 eV and 162.6 eV correspond to the binding energy of S 2p 3/2 and 2p 1/2 , respectively .…”

“…[25,44] In the third doublet, the two peaks located at 161.4 eV and 162.6 eV correspond to the binding energy of S 2p 3/2 and 2p 1/2 , respectively. [25,45] In the high binding energy area, the two small peaks at 168.8 eV and 170.0 eV can be assigned to the oxidized S species (CÀ SO n À C, n = 2, 3, 4). [27,[46][47][48] As a result, the XPS of C 1s and S 2p/Bi 4f confirm the fabrication of Bi 2 S 3 /KB hybrid.…”

“…On the other hand, metal compounds, such as metal oxides, [17,18] metal nitrides, [19,20] metal carbides [21,22] and metal sulfides, [23,24] have been widely used as the catalysts due to their excellent catalytic ability. Compared with other compounds, only few metal sulfides were reported as the catalysts for LiÀ O 2 batteries, such as Co 9 S 8 , [23] Bi 2 S 3 , [25] MoS 2 [26] and FeS. [27] Hu et al reported a NiCo 2 S 4 nanorod arrays supported on carbon textile, which showed a good catalytic activity that enabling a long cycle life of 500 cycles at 1000 mA h g À 1 with a low overpotential.…”

“…On the other hand, metal compounds, such as metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal carbides and metal sulfides, have been widely used as the catalysts due to their excellent catalytic ability. Compared with other compounds, only few metal sulfides were reported as the catalysts for Li−O 2 batteries, such as Co 9 S 8 , Bi 2 S 3 , MoS 2 and FeS . Hu et al.…”