Walnut shell – Derived activated carbon: Synthesis and its application in the sulfur cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2017-09, Vol.718, p.373-378
• Main Authors: Liu, Jun, Liu, Bin, Wang, Chengwen, Huang, Zongxiong, Hu, Liecong, Ke, Xi, Liu, Liying, Shi, Zhicong, Guo, Zaiping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Batteries; Biomass; Carbonization; Chemical synthesis; KOH activation; Lithium sulfur batteries; Lithium–sulfur battery; Porous carbon; Potassium hydroxides; Sulfur; Walnut shell
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.05.206

Biomass walnut shell was used to prepare activated carbon (AC) through a carbonization treatment and an activation procedure with potassium hydroxide (KOH). AC showed hierarchical pores: 0.6 nm micropores, 2.7 nm mesopores and macropores with average diameter of 50 nm, providing a large specific surface area of 2318 m2 g−1. This highly porous AC was tested as a host material to encapsulate sulfur via a vapor phase infusion process. The developed AC-S electrode showed a high initial specific capacity of 1350 mAh g−1 and good capacity retention over 100 cycles at 0.1 C for lithium–sulfur battery. [Display omitted] •Porous carbon is fabricated by using biomass walnut shell.•An activation procedure using KOH-ethanol solution was conducted.•As-synthesized AC has an extremely large surface area of 2318 m2 g−1 with hierarchical pores.•The developed AC-S electrode shows a reversible capacity of 910 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 C.