An ultrafine VO modified hierarchical porous carbon microsphere as a high performance cathode matrix for lithium-sulfur batteries

• Published in: RSC advances 2016-07, Vol.6 (69), p.65162-6517
• Main Authors: Tang, Ruwen, Li, Xueliang, Ding, Zhongqiang, Zhang, Luyao
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra12687a

An ultrafine V 2 O 3 modified carbon microsphere (VCM) was effectively prepared by a facile wet impregnation method and used as a cathode matrix for lithium-sulfur batteries. This resulting composite presents hierarchical porous frameworks of mesopores together with micropores, effectively restrains soluble polysulfides and enhances mass transport. Moreover, V 2 O 3 modification in this mono-dispersed microsphere material can trap polysulfides and mitigate loss of active materials by chemical adsorption. The S/VCM nanocomposites show a high initial discharge capacity of 1177 mA h g −1 at 0.5C and an excellent cycling performance with 921 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles. And it still maintains higher rate capacities of 843 and 719 mA h g −1 at 1C and 2C, respectively, after 100 cycles. These improved electrochemical performances are attributed to the synergistic effects of hierarchical pores and uniformly dispersed vanadium trioxide. An ultrafine V 2 O 3 modified carbon microsphere (VCM) was effectively prepared by a facile wet impregnation method and used as a cathode matrix for lithium-sulfur batteries.