Unstacked double-layer templated graphene for high-rate lithium–sulphur batteries

• Published in: Nature communications 2014-03, Vol.5 (1), p.3410-3410, Article 3410
• Main Authors: Zhao, Meng-Qiang, Zhang, Qiang, Huang, Jia-Qi, Tian, Gui-Li, Nie, Jing-Qi, Peng, Hong-Jie, Wei, Fei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 140/133; 140/146; 639/301/299/161/891; 639/925/357/918; Carbon; Energy storage; Graphene; Humanities and Social Sciences; Metal oxides; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4410

Preventing the stacking of graphene is essential to exploiting its full potential in energy-storage applications. The introduction of spacers into graphene layers always results in a change in the intrinsic properties of graphene and/or induces complexity at the interfaces. Here we show the synthesis of an intrinsically unstacked double-layer templated graphene via template-directed chemical vapour deposition. The as-obtained graphene is composed of two unstacked graphene layers separated by a large amount of mesosized protuberances and can be used for high-power lithium–sulphur batteries with excellent high-rate performance. Even after 1,000 cycles, high reversible capacities of ca . 530 mA h g −1 and 380 mA h g −1 are retained at 5 C and 10 C, respectively. This type of double-layer graphene is expected to be an important platform that will enable the investigation of stabilized three-dimensional topological porous systems and demonstrate the potential of unstacked graphene materials for advanced energy storage, environmental protection, nanocomposite and healthcare applications. Graphene is often used as parts of electrodes in batteries and stacking of graphene layers is problematic. Here, Zhao et al. synthesize graphene on mesoporous layered double oxide flakes so that the stacking is effectively prevented, and show high-rate performance when used in Li–S batteries.