• 80 Accesses

Abstract

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries fascinated the excessive intension of research community due to higher energy density, cost-effective, and greater efficiency as compared to lithium-ion batteries. Though under the huge benefits and countless achievements, there are some limitations such as rapid capacity declining and low utilization with sulfur cathode because of shuttle effect and uncontrollable high polysulfide deposition which restricted to practical usage of such effective energy storage device. Under such circumstances, we discussed nanomaterial-based sulfur cathode composites in this chapter specifically which provide great support in better electrochemical pathways. However, design/fabrication of different carbon-sulfur or other polymer-sulfur composite cathodes have been discussed with addressed shuttle effect and solution of this problem by these composites. Furthermore, porous, hollow/core-shell, nanosheets/nanorods and hierarchical nanomaterials have also been discussed with their size effects on Li+/electron transfer and their morphological impact on electrochemical performance as well. We summarized the different porous carbon hosts with their steady incorporation ways of carbon-sulfur cathodes. At the end, we summarized sufficient regarding challenges with sulfur cathode which restricted the applications in electronic field at commercial level. Additionally, our discussion concluded with their develo** trend in the future about porous nanomaterial-based sulfur composite of sulfur cathode.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bai L, Chao D, **ng P, Tou LJ, Chen Z, Jana A, Shen ZX, Zhao Y (2016) Refined sulfur nanoparticles immobilized in metal–organic polyhedron as stable cathodes for Li–S battery. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 8(23):14328–14333

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barchasz C, Mesguich F, Dijon J, Leprêtre J-C, Patoux S, Alloin F (2012a) Novel positive electrode architecture for rechargeable lithium/sulfur batteries. J Power Sources 211:19–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barchasz C, Leprêtre J-C, Alloin F, Patoux S (2012b) New insights into the limiting parameters of the Li/S rechargeable cell. J Power Sources 199:322–330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhargav A, Chang C-H, Fu Y, Manthiram A (2019) Rationally designed high-sulfur-content polymeric cathode material for lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 11(6):6136–6142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cai L, Zhang Q, Mwizerwa JP, Wan H, Yang X, Xu X, Yao X (2018) Highly crystalline layered VS2 nanosheets for all-solid-state lithium batteries with enhanced electrochemical performances. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 10(12):10053–10063

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng X-B, Huang J-Q, Zhang Q, Peng H-J, Zhao M-Q, Wei F (2014) Aligned carbon nanotube/sulfur composite cathodes with high sulfur content for lithium–sulfur batteries. Nano Energy 4:65–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheon S, Ko K, Cho J, Kim S, Chin E, Kim H-T (2003) Rechargeable lithium sulfur battery. Electrochem Soc 150:A796–A799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Díez N, Sevilla M, Fuertes AB (2020) N/S-Co-doped porous carbon nanoparticles serving the dual function of sulfur host and separator coating in lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Appl Energy Mater 3(4):3397–3407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dirlam PT, Glass RS, Char K, Pyun J (2017) The use of polymers in Li-S batteries: a review. J Polym Sci A Polym Chem 55(10):1635–1668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elazari R, Salitra G, Talyosef Y, Grinblat J, Scordilis-Kelley C, **ao A, Affinito J, Aurbach D (2010) Morphological and structural studies of composite sulfur electrodes upon cycling by HRTEM, AFM and Raman spectroscopy. J Electrochem Soc 157(10):A1131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan H, Tang Q, Chen X, Fan B, Chen S, Hu A (2016) Dual-confined sulfur nanoparticles encapsulated in hollow TiO2 spheres wrapped with graphene for lithium–sulfur batteries. Chem Asian J 11(20):2911–2917

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feng J, Sun X, Wu C, Peng L, Lin C, Hu S, Yang J, **e Y (2011) Metallic few-layered VS2 ultrathin nanosheets: high two-dimensional conductivity for in-plane supercapacitors. J Am Chem Soc 133(44):17832–17838

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • He X, Ren J, Wang L, Pu W, Jiang C, Wan C (2009) Expansion and shrinkage of the sulfur composite electrode in rechargeable lithium batteries. J Power Sources 190(1):154–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He J, Chen Y, Manthiram A (2018) MOF-derived cobalt sulfide grown on 3D graphene foam as an efficient sulfur host for long-life lithium-sulfur batteries. iScience 4:36–43

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ji Q, Li C, Wang J, Niu J, Gong Y, Zhang Z, Fang Q, Zhang Y, Shi J, Liao L (2017) Metallic vanadium disulfide nanosheets as a platform material for multifunctional electrode applications. Nano Lett 17(8):4908–4916

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JS, Jun J, Jang J, Manthiram A (2017) Sulfur-immobilized, activated porous carbon nanotube composite based cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries. Small 13(12):1602984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Sun M, Zhang T, Fang Y, Wang G (2014) Improving the performance of PEDOT-PSS coated sulfur@ activated porous graphene composite cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Mater Chem A 2(43):18345–18352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Huang Y, Yuan L, Hao Z, Huang Y (2015) Status and prospects in sulfur–carbon composites as cathode materials for rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries. Carbon 92:41–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Carter R, Douglas A, Oakes L, Pint CL (2017) Sulfur vapor-infiltrated 3D carbon nanotube foam for binder-free high areal capacity lithium–sulfur battery composite cathodes. ACS Nano 11(5):4877–4884

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Zhang Y, Wang S, Liu Y, Ding Y, He G, Zhang N, Yu G (2019a) Hierarchically porous C/Fe3C membranes with fast ion-transporting channels and polysulfide-trap** networks for high-areal-capacity Li–S batteries. Nano Lett 20(1):701–708

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Chen C, Chen Y, Li Z, **e W, Zhang X, Shao M, Wei M (2019b) Polysulfide confinement and highly efficient conversion on hierarchical mesoporous carbon nanosheets for Li–S batteries. Adv Energy Mater 9(42):1901935

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, **ao Z, Li P, Meng X, Wang R (2020) Enhanced chemisorption and catalytic effects toward polysulfides by modulating hollow nanoarchitectures for long-life lithium–sulfur batteries. Small 16(4):1906114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Li H, Zheng S, Gao N, Li S, Liu J, Hou L, Liu J, Miao B, Bai J (2022) CoS2-TiO2@ C Core-Shell fibers as cathode host material for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. J Colloid Interface Sci 607:655–661

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liang X, Wen Z, Liu Y, Wang X, Zhang H, Wu M, Huang L (2011) Preparation and characterization of sulfur–polypyrrole composites with controlled morphology as high capacity cathode for lithium batteries. Solid State Ionics 192(1):347–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang X, Zhang M, Kaiser MR, Gao X, Konstantinov K, Tandiono R, Wang Z, Liu H-K, Dou S-X, Wang J (2015) Split-half-tubular polypyrrole@ sulfur@ polypyrrole composite with a novel three-layer-3D structure as cathode for lithium/sulfur batteries. Nano Energy 11:587–599

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang J, Sun Z-H, Li F, Cheng H-M (2016) Carbon materials for Li-S batteries: functional evolution and performance improvement. Energy Storage Mater 2:76–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Jiang L, Wang H, Wang H, Jiao W, Chen G, Zhang P, Hui D, Jian X (2019) A brief review for fluorinated carbon: synthesis, properties and applications. Nanotechnol Rev 8(1):573–586

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, He Q, Yuan H, Yan C, Zhao Y, Xu X, Huang J-Q, Chueh Y-L, Zhang Q, Mai L (2020) Interface enhanced well-dispersed Co9S8 nanocrystals as an efficient polysulfide host in lithium–sulfur batteries. J Energy Chem 48:109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Zhong W, Du W, Guo B, Qi Y, Bao S-J, Xu M (2021) Suppressed shuttling effect of polysulfides using three-dimensional nickel hydroxide polyhedrons for advanced lithium-sulfur batteries. J Colloid Interface Sci 593:89–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manthiram A, Fu Y, Chung S-H, Zu C, Su Y-S (2014) Rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries. Chem Rev 114(23):11751–11787

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manthiram A, Chung SH, Zu C (2015) Lithium–sulfur batteries: progress and prospects. Adv Mater 27(12):1980–2006

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meng L, Yao Y, Liu J, Wang Z, Qian D, Zheng L, Su B-L, Wang H-E (2020) MoSe2 nanosheets as a functional host for lithium-sulfur batteries. J Energy Chem. 47:241–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikhaylik YV, Akridge JR (2004) Polysulfide shuttle study in the Li/S battery system. J Electrochem Soc 151(11):A1969

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oakes L, Carter R, Pint CL (2016) Nanoscale defect engineering of lithium–sulfur battery composite cathodes for improved performance. Nanoscale 8(46):19368–19375

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pang J, Mendes RG, Bachmatiuk A, Zhao L, Ta HQ, Gemming T, Liu H, Liu Z, Rummeli MH (2019) Applications of 2D MXenes in energy conversion and storage systems. Chem Soc Rev 48(1):72–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qin J-L, Li B-Q, Huang J-Q, Kong L, Chen X, Peng H-J, **e J, Liu R, Zhang Q (2019) Graphene-based Fe-coordinated framework porphyrin as an interlayer for lithium–sulfur batteries. Mater Chem Front 3(4):615–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su YS, Fu Y, Guo B, Dai S, Manthiram A (2013) Fast, reversible lithium storage with a sulfur/long-chain-polysulfide redox couple. Chemistry Eur J 19(26):8621–8626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang H, Yao S, Mi J, Wu X, Hou J, Shen X (2017) Ketjen Black/Mg0. 6Ni0. 4O composite coated separator for lithium-sulfur batteries with enhanced electrochemical performance. Mater Lett 186:127–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Yang J, **e J, Xu N, Li Y (2002) Sulfur–carbon nano-composite as cathode for rechargeable lithium battery based on gel electrolyte. Electrochem Commun 4(6):499–502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Yang Y, Liang Y, Robinson JT, Li Y, Jackson A, Cui Y, Dai H (2011) Graphene-wrapped sulfur particles as a rechargeable lithium–sulfur battery cathode material with high capacity and cycling stability. Nano Lett 11(7):2644–2647

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Wang X, Tian L, Wang Y, Ye S (2014) In situ sulfur deposition route to obtain sulfur–carbon composite cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Mater Chem A 2(12):4316–4323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Chen F, Liu Z, Tang Z, Yang Q, Zhao Y, Du S, Chen Q, Zhi C (2019) A highly elastic and reversibly stretchable all-polymer supercapacitor. Angew Chem 131(44):15854–15858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Yi Y, Li H, Wu P, Li M, Jiang W, Chen Z, Li H, Zhu W, Dai S (2020) Rapid gas-assisted exfoliation promises V2O5 nanosheets for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Nano Energy 67:104253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei W, Li J, Wang Q, Liu D, Niu J, Liu P (2020) Hierarchically porous SnO2 nanoparticle-anchored polypyrrole nanotubes as a high-efficient sulfur/polysulfide trap for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12(5):6362–6370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wild M, O’Neill L, Zhang T, Purkayastha R, Minton G, Marinescu M, Offer GJ (2015) Lithium sulfur batteries, a mechanistic review. Energy Environ Sci 8(12):3477–3494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu H, Huan Y, Wang D, Li M, Cheng X, Bai Z, Wu P, Peng W, Zhang R, Ji Z (2019) Hierarchical VS2 nano-flowers as sulfur host for lithium sulfur battery cathodes. J Electrochem Soc 166(2):A188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Yuan L, Han Q, Lan Y, Zhou Y, Jiang X, Ouyang X, Zhu J, Wang X, Fu Y (2020) Phosphorous/oxygen co-doped mesoporous carbon bowls as sulfur host for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries. J Power Sources 450:227658

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu L, Dai Y, Zeng W, Huang J, Liao B, Pang H (2021) Effective ion pathways and 3D conductive carbon networks in bentonite host enable stable and high-rate lithium–sulfur batteries. Nanotechnol Rev 10(1):20–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Y, Li H, Cheng C, Yan T, Gao W, Mao J, Dai K, Zhang L (2021) Boosting polysulfide redox conversion of Li-S batteries by one-step-synthesized Co-Mo bimetallic nitride. J Energy Chem 61:336–346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Zheng G, Cui Y (2013) Nanostructured sulfur cathodes. Chem Soc Rev 42(7):3018–3032

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Wu F, Liu Y, Zhao T, Qian J, **ng Y, Li W, Huang J, Li L, Huang Q (2017) Toward practical high-energy batteries: a modular-assembled oval-like carbon microstructure for thick sulfur electrodes. Adv Mater 29(48):1700598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu M, Ma J, **e M, Song H, Tian F, Xu S, Zhou Y, Li B, Wu D, Qiu H (2017) Freestanding and sandwich-structured electrode material with high areal mass loading for long-life lithium–sulfur batteries. Adv Energy Mater 7(11):1602347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan J, Wu J, Hardy WJ, Loya P, Lou M, Yang Y, Najmaei S, Jiang M, Qin F, Keyshar K (2015) Facile synthesis of single crystal vanadium disulfide nanosheets by chemical vapor deposition for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction. Adv Mater 27(37):5605–5609

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng L-C, Li W-H, Jiang Y, Yu Y (2017) Recent progress in Li–S and Li–Se batteries. Rare Metals 36(5):339–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang B, Qin X, Li G, Gao X (2010) Enhancement of long stability of sulfur cathode by encapsulating sulfur into micropores of carbon spheres. Energy Environ Sci 3(10):1531–1537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Kong LL, Liu S, Li GR, Gao XP (2017) A high-efficiency sulfur/carbon composite based on 3D graphene nanosheet@ carbon nanotube matrix as cathode for lithium–sulfur battery. Adv Energy Mater 7(11):1602543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Tang W, Zhan R, Liu H, Chen H, Yang J, Xu M (2019a) An N-doped porous carbon/MXene composite as a sulfur host for lithium–sulfur batteries. Inorg Chem Front 6(10):2894–2899

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Zou M, Zhao W, Wang Y, Chen Y, Wu Y, Dai L, Cao A (2019b) Highly dispersed catalytic Co3S4 among a hierarchical carbon nanostructure for high-rate and long-life lithium–sulfur batteries. ACS Nano 13(4):3982–3991

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng W, Liu Y, Hu X, Zhang C (2006) Novel nanosized adsorbing sulfur composite cathode materials for the advanced secondary lithium batteries. Electrochim Acta 51(7):1330–1335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng G, Yang Y, Cha JJ, Hong SS, Cui Y (2011) Hollow carbon nanofiber-encapsulated sulfur cathodes for high specific capacity rechargeable lithium batteries. Nano Lett 11(10):4462–4467

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J, Wang L, Yang M, Wu J, Chen F, Huang W, Han N, Ye H, Zhao F, Li Y (2017) Hierarchical VS2 nanosheet assemblies: a universal host material for the reversible storage of alkali metal ions. Adv Mater 29(35):1702061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu X, Zhao W, Song Y, Li Q, Ding F, Sun J, Zhang L, Liu Z (2018) In situ assembly of 2D conductive vanadium disulfide with graphene as a high-sulfur-loading host for lithium–sulfur batteries. Adv Energy Mater 8(20):1800201

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad Arif .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Arif, M., Sagir, M., Nazir, S., Tahir, M.B. (2024). Nanomaterial-Based Sulfur Composite Cathodes. In: Tahir, M.S., Tahir, M.B., Sagir, M., Asiri, A.M. (eds) Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Key Parameters, Recent Advances, Challenges and Applications. Springer Tracts in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2796-8_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Navigation