Graphene-Based Nanomaterials as the Cathode for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

The global energy crisis and environmental problems are becoming increasingly serious. It is now urgent to vigorously develop an efficient energy storage system. Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered to be one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems due to their high energy density. Sulfur is abundant on Earth, low-cost, and environmentally friendly, which is consistent with the characteristics of new clean energy. Although LSBs possess numerous advantages, they still suffer from numerous problems such as the dissolution and diffusion of sulfur intermediate products during the discharge process, the expansion of the electrode volume, and so on, which severely limit their further development. Graphene is a two-dimensional crystal material with a single atomic layer thickness and honeycomb bonding structure formed by sp2 hybridization of carbon atoms. Since its discovery in 2004, graphene has attracted worldwide attention due to its excellent physical and chemical properties. Herein, this review summarizes the latest developments in graphene frameworks, heteroatom-modified graphene, and graphene composite frameworks in sulfur cathodes. Moreover, the challenges and future development of graphene-based sulfur cathodes are also discussed.

Recent progress on van der Waals heterojunctions applied in photocatalysis

“…14 Its unique physical, electronic, optical and chemical properties have led to its extensive research and application in the elds of mobile equipment, aerospace and new energy batteries and other elds. [49][50][51] Furthermore, graphene is considered as one of the key components of many vdWHs due to its high carrier mobility of 2 Â 10 5 cm V À1 s À1 , the good thermal conductivity of 5.5 Â 10 3 W m À1 K À1 and adjustable work function. 52,53 Nowadays, other graphene-like materials have also been developed, such as molybdenum disulde (MoS 2 ), 54,55 molybdenum diselenide (MoSe 2 ), 56,57 tin selenide (SnSe), [58][59][60] bismuth telluride (Bi 2 Te 3 ), 61 tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ), 62 black phosphene (BP) 63,64 and hexagonal boron nitride (HBN).…”

“…14 Its unique physical, electronic, optical and chemical properties have led to its extensive research and application in the fields of mobile equipment, aerospace and new energy batteries and other fields. 49–51 Furthermore, graphene is considered as one of the key components of many vdWHs due to its high carrier mobility of 2 × 10 5 cm V −1 s −1 , the good thermal conductivity of 5.5 × 10 3 W m −1 K −1 and adjustable work function. 52,53…”

Implementation of heteroatom-doped nanomaterial/core–shell nanostructure based electrocatalysts for fuel cells and metal-ion/air/sulfur batteries

“…296 LSBs are noted for being costeffective and demonstrating enhanced gravimetric energy density and safety. [297][298][299][300][301] The theoretical energy density of Li-S rechargeable batteries can be as high as 2600 W h kg À1 , which makes them highly suitable for application in various energy storage systems. 299,302 S is highly inexpensive compared to transition metals (e.g., Co and Mn) and phosphates, which are used to develop Li-based batteries.…”

NiCo‐Layered Double Hydroxide to Composite with Sulfur as Cathodes for High‐Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

“…In this aspect, confining the sulfur and lithium polysulfides into controllably synthesized optimal matrix materials has been demonstrated to be an effective route to support sulfur and trap LiPSs. [20][21][22][23][24][25] Some carbonaceous composites, including carbon nanosheets, [26][27][28] carbon nanotubes, [29][30][31] carbon spheres [32][33][34] and graphenebased composites, [35,36] were generally chosen as sulfur hosts. The porous carbon hosts can enhance the conductivity of sulfur cathode as well as retain polysulfides within the porous structures.…”