Honeycomb-Like Nitrogen-Doped Carbon 3D Nanoweb@Li2S Cathode Material for Use in Lithium Sulfur Batteries

Current lithium-ion batteries have a low theoretical capacity that is insufficient for use in emerging electric vehicles and energy-storage systems. The development of lithium-sulfur batteries utilizing Li2S cathodes would be a promising option to overcome the capacity limitation. In this work, new three-dimensional (3D) honeycomb-like N-doped carbon nanowebs (HCNs) have been synthesized through a facile aqueous solution route for use as a cathode material in lithium-sulfur batteries. The Li2S@HCNs cathode delivers a high discharge capacity of approximately 815 mAh g(-1) after 65 cycles at 0.1 C, along with a superior rate capacity of approximately 568 mAh g(-1) even at 2 C. The outstanding electrochemical rate performance is ascribed to their unique 3D honeycomb-like nanoweb structure, consisting of nanowires derived from polypyrrole. These properties greatly enhance the electrochemical reaction kinetics by providing efficient electron pathways and hollow channels for electrolyte transport. Nitrogen doping in the carbon nanowebs also considerably improves the chemisorption properties by tuning affinity between sulfur and oxygen functional groups on the carbon framework. The simple synthesis strategy and the resulting unique electrode structure could present a new avenue in nanostructure research for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries.