CuCo2S4 Nanoparticles Embedded in Carbon Nanotube Networks as Sulfur Hosts for High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Hongying Wang; Yanli Song; Yanming Zhao; Yan Zhao; Zhifeng Wang

doi:10.3390/nano12183104

CuCo₂S₄ Nanoparticles Embedded in Carbon Nanotube Networks as Sulfur Hosts for High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2022 Sep 7;12(18):3104. doi: 10.3390/nano12183104.

Authors

Hongying Wang^{1

2}, Yanli Song¹, Yanming Zhao¹, Yan Zhao¹, Zhifeng Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.
² Key Laboratory for New Type of Functional Materials in Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.

Abstract

Rational design of sulfur hosts for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is essential to address the shuttle effect and accelerate reaction kinetics. Herein, the composites of bimetallic sulfide CuCo₂S₄ loaded on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are prepared by hydrothermal method. By regulating the loading of CuCo₂S₄ nanoparticles, it is found that when Cu²⁺ and CNT are prepared in a 10:1 ratio, the CuCo₂S₄ nanoparticles loaded on the CNT are relatively uniformly distributed, avoiding the occurrence of agglomeration, which improves the electrical conductivity and number of active sites. Through a series of electrochemical performance tests, the S/CuCo₂S₄-1/CNT presents a discharge specific capacity of 1021 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 C after 100 cycles, showing good cycling stability. Even at 1 C, the S/CuCo₂S₄-1/CNT cathode delivers a discharge capacity of 627 mAh g^-1 after 500 cycles. This study offers a promising strategy for the design of bimetallic sulfide-based sulfur hosts in Li-S batteries.

Keywords: CuCo2S4; carbon nanotubes; lithium-sulfur batteries; nanoparticles; sulfur host.

Abstract

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