New Structural Carbons via Industrial Gas Explosion for Hybrid Cathodes in Li–S Batteries

Abstract

Hereinafter, we report onion-like carbon (OLC) and fullerene-like carbon (FLC) materials synthesized via 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (Royal Demolition Explosive, RDX) detonation technique and acetylene gas explosion process, respectively. Abundant micropores, mesopores, and different spatial structures exist inside the two carbon materials. They demonstrate good conductivity and sulfur storage capacity, and various rich pore structures, inhibiting the shuttle effect of the solved lithium polysulfide in the charge–discharge process. The pore size distribution, pore volume, specific surface area, electronic conductivity, composite structure, interaction between sulfur and carbon, and cell performance are researched. The Li–S battery furnished with the two carbon–sulfur hybrid materials as the cathode host material delivers a well reversible rate cycling performance, and a low decay rate of 0.037% and 0.056% per cycle during 1000 cycles at 1C for FLC and OLC, respectively, with a sulfur load of about 2.2 mg/cm2. The excellent electrochemical performance of the two carbon materials obtained by detonation method makes them ideal substitute products of the commercial Super P carbon material, especially the FLC material.

3D Printing to Increase the Flexibility of the Chemical Synthesis of Biologically Active Molecules: Design of On-Demand Gas Generation Reactors

“…Advances in acetylene chemistry have recently been highlighted and have shown an emerging growing trend [ 6 , 9 ]. The transformations of acetylene have been implemented in industrial processes [ 10 ] and used in the development of a new generation of smart multifunctional materials [ 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Advances in acetylene chemistry have recently been highlighted and have shown an emerging growing trend [6,9]. The transformations of acetylene have been implemented in industrial processes [10] and used in the development of a new generation of smart multifunctional materials [11,12]. However, the flammability and explosiveness of gaseous acetylene limits the scope of possible transformations compared to other alkynes.…”

CoS2-Decorated Cobalt/Nitrogen Co-Doped Carbon Nanofiber Networks as Dual Functional Electrocatalysts for Enhancing Electrochemical Redox Kinetics in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

“…In recent decades, researchers have generally impregnated with sulfur via a melt-infusion strategy based on various structures of nonpolar carbon matrices, − which overcomes these obstacles mentioned above and improves the conductive performance of the sulfur cathode. However, the most conventional method to suppress polysulfides is by physical adsorption, which cannot restrict the migration of polysulfides in the long term .…”

Three-Dimensional Porous Carbon Skeleton Synthesized by a Template-Free and No-Post-Activation Process Applied for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

“…Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), founded upon insertion-type metal oxides such as LiFePO 4 , LiCoO 2 , or LiMn 2 O 4 as the cathode and graphite as the opposite side, have been widely applied into portable electronic devices over the past three decades. , Nevertheless, after years of exploration, LIBs are already approaching the theoretical peak of the electrode materials (LiCoO 2 , 274 mA h g –1 and LiNiO 2 , 275 mA h g –1 ) and cannot satisfy the constantly growing power and energy demand of electric vehicles, stationary storage, and military power supplies. , Hence, to break through the ceiling, it is urgent to develop an alternative energy-storage system. In recent years, unlike Li + extraction/insertion mechanism, multielectron reactions have been an efficient way for designing and developing high gravimetric energy density (energy per unit weight) and volumetric energy density (energy per unit volume) batteries. , Among which, one of the most prospective candidates of the next-generation energy-storage system is the lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) .…”

“…1,2 Nevertheless, after years of exploration, LIBs are already approaching the theoretical peak of the electrode materials (LiCoO 2 , 274 mA h g −1 and LiNiO 2 , 275 mA h g −1 ) and cannot satisfy the constantly growing power and energy demand of electric vehicles, stationary storage, and military power supplies. 3,4 Hence, to break through the ceiling, it is urgent to develop an alternative energy-storage system. In recent years, unlike Li + extraction/ insertion mechanism, multielectron reactions have been an efficient way for designing and developing high gravimetric energy density (energy per unit weight) and volumetric energy density (energy per unit volume) batteries.…”