Graphene-wrapped sulfur particles as a rechargeable lithium-sulfur battery cathode material with high capacity and cycling stability

Nano Lett. 2011 Jul 13;11(7):2644-7. doi: 10.1021/nl200658a. Epub 2011 Jun 28.

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a graphene-sulfur composite material by wrapping poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coated submicrometer sulfur particles with mildly oxidized graphene oxide sheets decorated by carbon black nanoparticles. The PEG and graphene coating layers are important to accommodating volume expansion of the coated sulfur particles during discharge, trapping soluble polysulfide intermediates, and rendering the sulfur particles electrically conducting. The resulting graphene-sulfur composite showed high and stable specific capacities up to ∼600 mAh/g over more than 100 cycles, representing a promising cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries with high energy density.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Electrodes
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Lithium / chemistry*
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology
  • Particle Size
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Sulfur / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Sulfur
  • Graphite
  • Lithium