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Performance Enhancement of a Sulfur/Carbon Cathode by Polydopamine as an Efficient Shell for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Author(s) -
Zhang Xuqing,
Xie Dong,
Zhong Yu,
Wang Donghuang,
Wu Jianbo,
Wang Xiuli,
Xia Xinhui,
Gu Changdong,
Tu Jiangping
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201701564
Subject(s) - sulfur , cathode , polymerization , carbon fibers , electrochemistry , dissolution , materials science , lithium (medication) , chemical engineering , lithium–sulfur battery , electrode , conductivity , chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , metallurgy , polymer , composite number , medicine , engineering , endocrinology
Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered to be among the most promising next‐generation high‐energy batteries. It is a consensus that improving the conductivity of sulfur cathodes and impeding the dissolution of lithium polysulfides are two key accesses to high‐performance LSBs. Herein we report a sulfur/carbon black (S/C) cathode modified by self‐polymerized polydopamine (pDA) with the assistance of polymerization treatment. The pDA acts as a novel and effective shell on the S/C cathode to stop the shuttle effect of polysulfides. By the synergistic effect of enhanced conductivity and multiple blocking effect for polysulfides, the S/C@pDA electrode exhibits improved electrochemical performances including large specific capacity (1135 mAh g −1 at 0.2 C), high rate capability (533 mAh g −1 at 5 C) and long cyclic life (965 mAh g −1 after 200 cycles). Our smart design strategy may promote the development of high‐performance LSBs.