Nickel sulfide nanocrystals on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanotubes with high-efficiency electrocatalysis for room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries

Zichao Yan, Jin Xiao, Weihong Lai, Li Wang, Florian Gebert, Yunxiao Wang (), Qinfen Gu, Hui Liu (), Shu-Lei Chou (), Huakun Liu and Shi-Xue Dou
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Zichao Yan: University of Wollongong
Jin Xiao: Hunan University of Technology
Weihong Lai: University of Wollongong
Li Wang: University of Wollongong
Florian Gebert: University of Wollongong
Yunxiao Wang: University of Wollongong
Qinfen Gu: Australian Synchrotron
Hui Liu: Tianjin University
Shu-Lei Chou: University of Wollongong
Huakun Liu: University of Wollongong
Shi-Xue Dou: University of Wollongong

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Polysulfide dissolution and slow electrochemical kinetics of conversion reactions lead to low utilization of sulfur cathodes that inhibits further development of room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries. Here we report a multifunctional sulfur host, NiS2 nanocrystals implanted in nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanotubes, which is rationally designed to achieve high polysulfide immobilization and conversion. Attributable to the synergetic effect of physical confinement and chemical bonding, the high electronic conductivity of the matrix, closed porous structure, and polarized additives of the multifunctional sulfur host effectively immobilize polysulfides. Significantly, the electrocatalytic behaviors of the Lewis base matrix and the NiS2 component are clearly evidenced by operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction and density functional theory with strong adsorption of polysulfides and high conversion of soluble polysulfides into insoluble Na2S2/Na2S. Thus, the as-obtained sulfur cathodes exhibit excellent performance in room-temperature Na/S batteries.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11600-3

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