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Confining Sulfur within a Zeolite Host Wrapped inside Conducting Polymer Sheaths as Cathode for Li‐S Battery
Author(s) -
Gope Subhra,
Dutta Dipak,
Bhattacharyya Aninda J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201600185
Subject(s) - cathode , zeolite , battery (electricity) , sulfur , materials science , polymer , host (biology) , nanotechnology , composite material , chemical engineering , electrical engineering , chemistry , engineering , ecology , physics , organic chemistry , biology , metallurgy , catalysis , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Abstract We discuss here the efficient confinement of sulfur and polysulfides within a non‐carbonaceous ion conducting zeolite (NaY) host wrapped inside electronically conducting polyaniline (PAni) sheaths as a low‐cost, high performance cathode for rechargeable lithium‐sulfur battery. The sulfur is observed to be confined within the intra crystallite and interstitial spaces of the NaY zeolite and the (PAni) sheaths prevent leakage of sulfur (and polysulfides). Additionally, this NaY‐PAni assembly provides distinct pathways for electrons (through PAni) and ions (through NaY channels and across PAni sheaths) during battery operation. Raman spectroscopy confirms the presence of sulfur in diradical S 8 * chain forms in the cylindrical pores of NaY and as far our knowledge is concerned, this is the very first result demonstrating the stabilization of sulfur in its metastable state only under confinement at ambient conditions. Sulfur content as high as 75% could be loaded in the NaY‐PAni assembly. However, extremely stable battery performance is obtained for slightly lower S‐loadings. At sulfur content of 65%, capacity of around 600 mAh g ‐1 is obtained at the end of 200 cycles.