Atomic cobalt as an efficient electrocatalyst in sulfur cathodes for superior room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries

Bin-Wei Zhang, Tian Sheng, Yun-Dan Liu, Yun-Xiao Wang (), Lei Zhang, Wei-Hong Lai, Li Wang, Jianping Yang, Qin-Fen Gu, Shu-Lei Chou (), Hua-Kun Liu and Shi-Xue Dou
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Bin-Wei Zhang: University of Wollongong
Tian Sheng: Anhui Normal University
Yun-Dan Liu: Xiangtan University
Yun-Xiao Wang: University of Wollongong
Lei Zhang: University of Wollongong
Wei-Hong Lai: University of Wollongong
Li Wang: University of Wollongong
Jianping Yang: Donghua University
Qin-Fen Gu: Australian Synchrotron
Shu-Lei Chou: University of Wollongong
Hua-Kun Liu: University of Wollongong
Shi-Xue Dou: University of Wollongong

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The low-cost room-temperature sodium-sulfur battery system is arousing extensive interest owing to its promise for large-scale applications. Although significant efforts have been made, resolving low sulfur reaction activity and severe polysulfide dissolution remains challenging. Here, a sulfur host comprised of atomic cobalt-decorated hollow carbon nanospheres is synthesized to enhance sulfur reactivity and to electrocatalytically reduce polysulfide into the final product, sodium sulfide. The constructed sulfur cathode delivers an initial reversible capacity of 1081 mA h g−1 with 64.7% sulfur utilization rate; significantly, the cell retained a high reversible capacity of 508 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 600 cycles. An excellent rate capability is achieved with an average capacity of 220.3 mA h g−1 at the high current density of 5 A g−1. Moreover, the electrocatalytic effects of atomic cobalt are clearly evidenced by operando Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06144-x

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