Electrospun MoS2-CNTs-PVA/PVA Hybrid Separator for High-Performance Li/FeS2 Batteries

Sheng Wu; Qian Liu; Wei Zhang; Ruizhe Wu; Hongping Tang; Yulin Ma; Wenqiang Xu; Shufang Jiang

doi:10.3390/polym16070921

Electrospun MoS₂-CNTs-PVA/PVA Hybrid Separator for High-Performance Li/FeS₂ Batteries

Polymers (Basel). 2024 Mar 27;16(7):921. doi: 10.3390/polym16070921.

Authors

Sheng Wu¹, Qian Liu¹, Wei Zhang¹, Ruizhe Wu¹, Hongping Tang¹, Yulin Ma¹, Wenqiang Xu¹, Shufang Jiang¹

Affiliation

¹ Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials Co-Constructed by the Province and Ministry, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Synthesis and Application of Organic Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.

Abstract

As a promising candidate for high-energy-density rechargeable lithium metal batteries, Li/FeS₂ batteries still suffer from the large volume change and severe shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides during cycling. To improve the electrochemical performance, great efforts have been made to modify FeS₂ cathodes by constructing various nanocomposites. However, energy density is sacrificed, and these materials are not applicable at a large scale. Herein, we report that the electrochemical performance of commercial FeS₂ can be greatly enhanced with the application of a double-layer MoS₂-CNTs-PVA (MCP)/PVA separator fabricated by electrospinning. The assembled Li/FeS₂ batteries can still deliver a high discharge capacity of 400 mAh/g after 200 cycles at a current density of 0.5 C. The improved cycling stability can be attributed to the strong affinity towards lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) of the hydroxyl-rich PVA matrix and the unique double-layer structure, in which the bottom layer acts as an electrical insulation layer and the top layer coupled with MoS₂/CNTs provides catalytic sites for LiPS conversion.

Keywords: Li/FeS2 batteries; MoS2; electrospinning; polyvinyl alcohol.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Young Scientist Fund of Hubei University (grant no. 202010603000002) and the Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province (grant no. 2022ACA004-2).