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Nitrogen‐Doped Graphene Nanosheets/S Composites as Cathode in Room‐Temperature Sodium‐Sulfur Batteries
Author(s) -
Hao Yong,
Li Xifei,
Sun Xueliang,
Wang Chunlei
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201701951
Subject(s) - materials science , graphene , nanocomposite , cathode , sulfur , electrochemistry , composite number , chemical engineering , intercalation (chemistry) , composite material , energy storage , electrode , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , metallurgy
Room‐temperature sodium‐sulfur (RT Na−S) batteries have gained increasing attention from energy storage community in recent years. In this work, homogeneous nitrogen‐doped graphene nanosheets/sulfur (NGNS/S) nanocomposites, synthesized using chemical reaction‐deposition method and low temperature heat treatment, were studied as active cathode materials for RT Na−S batteries. Different loading composites with 86%, 65%, 45% and 25% gamma‐S 8 have been electrochemically evaluated, respectively, and compared with two control electrodes of NGNS and S. It was found that the NGNS/S composite with 25% S loading exhibited the best electrochemical performance with specific capacities of 212 and 136 mAh g −1 in the 1st and 10th cycles, respectively. The enhanced electrochemical performance of NGNS/S nanocomposite is mainly attributed to the improved kinetics due to the NGNS conductive network and easier intercalation of Na + into expanded NGNS layers due to the addition of S within the graphene layers. In addition, the composite with 25% S loading shows higher surface area and complete reaction with product of Na 2 S, which likely contributes to the improved energy capacity.