In situ synthesis of VS4/Ti3C2Tx MXene composites as modified separators for lithium-sulfur battery

Dong Chen; Tianjiao Zhu; Shen Shen; Yongan Cao; Yangyang Mao; Wenju Wang; Encai Bao; Hongfu Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.015

In situ synthesis of VS₄/Ti₃C₂T_x MXene composites as modified separators for lithium-sulfur battery

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 Nov 15;650(Pt A):480-489. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.015. Epub 2023 Jul 5.

Authors

Dong Chen¹, Tianjiao Zhu², Shen Shen¹, Yongan Cao², Yangyang Mao², Wenju Wang³, Encai Bao⁴, Hongfu Jiang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Xinhua Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd, China.
² School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
³ School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China. Electronic address: wangwenju@njust.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China. Electronic address: 20180051@jaas.ac.cn.
⁵ Jiangsu Xinhua Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd, China. Electronic address: jianghongfu@gcl-power.com.

PMID: 37421750
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.015

Abstract

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are regarded as highly prospective energy storage devices. However, problems such as low sulfur utilization, poor cycle performance, and insufficient rate capability hinder the commercial development of Li-S batteries. Three-dimensional (3D) structure materials have been applied to modify the separator of Li-S batteries to suppress the diffusion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and inhibit the transmembrane diffusion of Li⁺. A vanadium sulfide/titanium carbide (VS₄/Ti₃C₂T_x) MXene composite with a 3D conductive network structure has been synthesized in situ by a simple hydrothermal reaction. VS₄ is uniformly loaded on the Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets through vanadium-carbon(V-C) bonds, which effectively inhibits the self-stacking of Ti₃C₂T_x. The synergistic action of VS₄ and Ti₃C₂T_x substantially reduces the shuttle of LiPSs, improves interfacial charge transfer, and boosts the kinetics of LiPSs conversion, consequently increasing the rate performance and cycle stability of the battery. The assembled battery has a specific discharge capacity of 657 mAhg^-1 after 500 cycles at 1C, with a high capacity retention rate of 71%. The construction of VS₄/Ti₃C₂T_x composite with a 3D conductive network structure provides a feasible strategy for the application of polar semiconductor materials in Li-S batteries. It also provides an effective solution for the design of high-performance Li-S batteries.

Keywords: Catalysis transformation; Lithium-sulfur batteries; Modified separators; Polysulfides shuttle effect; VS(4)/Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene.