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Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering >> 2020, Volume 14, Issue 6 doi: 10.1007/s11705-019-1897-x

Kombucha SCOBY-based carbon and graphene oxide wrapped sulfur/polyacrylonitrile as a high-capacity cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries

. Energy Materials Lab, Department of Physics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630003 Tamil Nadu, India.. Electrochemical Power Systems Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, 630003 Tamil Nadu, India

Accepted: 2020-03-23 Available online: 2020-03-23

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Abstract

Hierarchically-porous carbon nano sheets were prepared as a conductive additive for sulfur/polyacrylonitrile (S/PAN) composite cathodes using a simple heat treatment. In this study, kombucha (that was derived from symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) carbon (KC) and graphene oxide (GO) were used as a carbon host matrix. These rational-designed S/PAN/KC/GO hybrid composites greatly suppress the diffusion of polysulfides by providing strong physical and chemical adsorption. The cathode delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1652 mAh·g at a 0.1 C rate and a 100 cycle capacity of 1193 mAh·g . The nano sheets with embedded hierarchical pores create a conductive network that provide effective electron transfer and fast electrochemical kinetics. Further, the nitrogen component of PAN can raise the affinity/interaction of the carbon host with lithium polysulfides, supporting the cyclic performance. The results exploit the cumulative contribution of both the conductive carbon matrix and PAN in the enhanced performance of the positive electrode.

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