Unraveling the mechanism on improved kinetics performance of sulfurized polyacrylonitrile with defective conductive carbon matrix

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2024-03, Vol.484, p.149558, Article 149558
• Main Authors: Xu, Ao, Jin, Zhaoqing, Wang, Baochun, Xie, Xintai, Xiao, Xueying, Wang, Anbang, Zhang, Jieyu, Wang, Weikun, Lu, Jianhao, Zeng, Fanglei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dynamic performance; High specific surface area; Ketjen Black; Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.149558

•Sulfide polyacrylonitrile containing defective Ketjen Black was prepared by dissolved-deposition method.•The defective carbon matrix can improve the electrochemical activity.•SPAN@D-KB has excellent ion transport capability.•SPAN@D-KB has excellent discharge specific capacity and cycle stability. Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) is considered as an ideal cathode material for next generation of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries because of its unique solid–solid conversion mechanism to eliminate the shuttle effect in Li-S batteries. The deficient reaction kinetics resulting from the absence of a conductive network in SPAN constitutes a significant factor influencing its battery performance. Herein, defective Ketjen Black (D-KB) was used as the matrix of SPAN by a dissolution-precipitation process to recreate the internal conducting network of SPAN (SPAN@D-KB), consequently increasing its conductivity and improving the dynamic characteristics. Through rational defect-induced electron diffusion can benefit the dynamics in the solid phase of SPAN, and thus improves the overall electrochemical performance of the Li-S batteries. Therefore, the SPAN@D-KB electrodes delivered a high rate performance of 639 mAh gcomposite-1 at 3.0C, and a reversible capacity of 700 mAh gcomposite-1 at 0.2C with a capacity retention rate of 93% after 350cycles. This work offers theoretical guidelines for the design, preparation and performance optimization of SPAN materials, which is helpful to promote the future application of sulfur-based batteries.