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Engineered Interfusion of Hollow Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanospheres for Improving Electrochemical Behavior and Energy Density of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Author(s) -
Li Zhonglin,
Xiao Zhubing,
Wang Shiqing,
Cheng Zhibin,
Li Pengyue,
Wang Ruihu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201902322
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon fibers , electrochemistry , lithium (medication) , chemical engineering , sulfur , zeolitic imidazolate framework , imidazolate , nanostructure , nitrogen , nanotechnology , ionic liquid , doping , electrode , metal organic framework , composite material , adsorption , organic chemistry , composite number , optoelectronics , catalysis , chemistry , medicine , engineering , metallurgy , endocrinology
Hollow nanostructures are one of promising sulfur host materials for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, but the ineffective contact among discrete particles usually generates overall poor electrical conductivity and low volumetric energy density. A new interfused hollow nitrogen‐doped carbon (HNPC) material, derived from imidazolium‐based ionic polymer (ImIP)‐encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8), is reported. A novel method for ZIF‐8 disassembly induced by the decomposition of the ImIP shell is proposed. The unique structural superiority gives the resultant electrodes remarkable cycling stability, high rate capability, and large volumetric energy density. A stable reversible discharge capacity over 562 mA h g −1 at 2 C is achieved after prolonged cycling for 800 cycles and the average capacity decay per cycle is as low as 0.035%. The electrochemical performance achieved greatly surpasses that of ZIF‐8‐derived carbon matrices and conventional nitrogen‐doped carbon materials. This proposed methodology opens a new avenue for the design of hollow‐structured carbon nanoarchitectures with target functionalities.