Synthesis of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Aqueous Suspension with Surfactant Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate for Lithium/Sulfur Rechargeable Batteries

Abstract

Due to the hydrophobic nature of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was adopted as a surfactant to synthesize a well-dispersed, homogeneous MWNT aqueous suspension. By simple stirring mixing of the resultant MWNT suspension with nano-sulfur aqueous suspension, a novel porous sulfur/ multiwalled carbon nanotube composite (S/MWNT) was synthesized. This preparation method based on the suspension mixing possesses the advantages of simplicity and low cost. Homogeneous dispersion and integration of MWNT in the composite results in a porous, highly conductive and mechanically flexible framework with enhanced electronic conductivity and ability to absorb the polysulfides into its porous structure. The cell with this S/MWNT composite cathode demonstrates a high reversibility, resulting in a stable reversible specific discharge capacity of 708 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. Furthermore, the S/MWNT composite cathode with sulfur content of 62.5 wt% exhibits a good rate capability with discharge capacities of 946, 780 and 516 mAh g −1 at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 C, respectively.

Novel Sulfur/Ethylenediamine-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite as Cathode Material for High-performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

“…To confirm the enhanced electrochemical performances of EDA functionalization-modified RGO, the further comparison among S/GO, S/MWNT, S/RGO, and S/EDA-RGO cathodes of Li-S batteries were carried out and the results are compiled in Table 1 . The electrochemical performances of the S/EDA-RGO composite cathode that was obtained here were better than those of the previously reported results [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Overall, this confirmed that EDA functionalization-modified RGO could enhance the electronic conductivity of sulfur cathode and suppress the lithium polysulfides that were dissolved in the electrolyte.…”

Electrochemical determination of tetrabromobisphenol A in water samples based on a carbon nanotubes@zeolitic imidazole framework-67 modified electrode

“…36) except for the appearance of a high-intensity peak at approximately [26][27] , which corresponded to the (002) peak of CNTs-COOH. 38 Hence, the CNTs@ZIF-67 composite was successfully prepared, and the incorporation of CNTs-COOH did not destroy the crystal structure of ZIF-67.…”

Solutions to the Challenges of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries by Carbon Nanotubes

“…[82] Moreover, the sulfur-CNT interaction can be enhanced by homogeneously dispersing CNTs with sulfur. For instance, instead of physically mixing CNTs with the slurry, the addition of the homogeneously suspended CNTs (usually by the use of a surfactant, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate [83] or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide [84] ) into the sulfur stock helps create a uniform slurry for cathode fabrication. Moreover, inspired by the concept of sulfur vapor infusion, Guo et al used a thermal treatment to incorporate sulfur species (of small sizes, such as S 6 and S 2 ) into the central hollow space of CNTs through the defective area (i.e., the narrow pores) on the sidewall, and the vaporized sulfur molecules would then be converted back to large-size S 8 while the dissolution of polysulfides was suppressed due to the blocking effect on the liquid electrolytes due to the limited size of the channels.…”

“…Moreover, the sulfur–CNT interaction can be enhanced by homogeneously dispersing CNTs with sulfur. For instance, instead of physically mixing CNTs with the slurry, the addition of the homogeneously suspended CNTs (usually by the use of a surfactant, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate [ 83 ] or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide [ 84 ] ) into the sulfur stock helps create a uniform slurry for cathode fabrication. Moreover, inspired by the concept of sulfur vapor infusion, Guo et al.…”