Constructing a Multifunctional Globular Polypyrrole Slurry Cladding Carbon Aerogel/Sulfur Cathode for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries with their low cost, high energy density, and theoretical specific capacity have been deemed as one of the most promising candidates for the future energy storage market. However, the insulating sulfur and the shuttling effect concerning lithium polysulfides always persecute the sulfur cathode of Li–S batteries. Consequently, a globular polypyrrole (PPy) interlayer (GPIL) with multifunctional polysulfide-blocking ability wraps the carbon aerogel/sulfur cathode to restrain this shuttling effect. Ultimately, a high-performance Li–S battery is obtained through a polypyrrole coating design. The maximum discharge specific capacity of the sulfur cathode with a GPIL is 882 mAh g–1 at 1.4 mA cm–2 with the reversible specific capacity and an average Coulombic efficiency of ∼652.7 mAh g–1 and 98.1%, respectively, after 100 cycles, indicating an effective impediment of the shuttling effect. Moreover, the Li–S battery with a GPIL can still deliver 520 mAh g–1 with a capacity retention rate of >96% after 100 cycles at a high current density of 2.8 mA cm–2, significantly outstripping most of the interlayers recently reported. This work highlights the meaning of this multifunctional interlayer and also promotes the great application potential of carbon aerogel as the host of the sulfur cathode for Li–S batteries.

Polypyrrole/Graphene Composite Interlayer: High Redox Kinetics of Polysulfides and Electrochemical Performance of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries Enabled by Unique Pyrrolic Nitrogen Sites

“…However, non-polar carbon nanomaterials show weak chemical affinity to PSs and poor electrolyte wettability, and drive slow lithium-ion transfer and redox kinetics of PSs, thus the electrochemical performance, especially the rate capability and the cycling performance of the LiÀ S batteries remains unsatisfactory. [19] Therefore, carbon materials are generally modified by doping hetero-atoms and polymer, [17,18,[20][21][22][23][24] which enhance the adsorption of PSs, the electronic conductivity of carbon matrix and the redox kinetics of sulfur species.…”

Multifunctional MOF‐Based Separator Materials for Advanced Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

“…The use of carbon aerogel as a sulfur electrode material has been proven to be an effective method for constructing high-performance LSBs. [45][46][47][48] In addition to the improvement of the sulfur positive electrode, researchers are also exploring metal lithium in the negative electrode. It has been reported that the use of micro-nano lithium metal as a negative electrode can not only curb the formation of lithium dendrites but also control the process of lithium plating and stripping.…”

Protective interlayer for trapping polysulfides and a conducting host for sulfur: dual role of candle soot carbon for the development of high performance lithium–sulfur batteries

“…20 The pioneering work by X. Gao et al [25][26][27][28] shed light on the use of carbon materials with various strategies for enhancing the electrochemical performance. The group has reported the use of multifunctional globular polypyrrole interlayer 27 as a polysulfide blockade which showed impressive electrochemical performance with 74% capacity retention on cycling at 0.5C. In the followed work by the group 28 , they designed porous hollow carbon aerogel using CaCO 3 as a template and investigated the same as a cathode for Li-S battery.…”