Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
  • 2 Thermal Mechanic Techniques Engineering Department, Basra Engineering Technical College, Southern Technical University, Basra, Iraq
  • 3 Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, King Khalid University, Muhayil Asir 63311, Saudi Arabia
  • 4 College of Medical Techniques, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
  • 5 Department of Radiology & Sonar Techniques, Al-Noor University College, Nineveh, Iraq
  • 6 Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. kreem.alsultan@yahoo.com
  • 7 Integrated Chemical BioPhysics Research, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. nassarmaadh@gmail.com
Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2024 Mar 20;26(12):9284-9294.
PMID: 38469699 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05716j

Abstract

Sulfur hosts and conversion catalysts based on NiCo-LDHs exhibit potential for improving the performance of Li-S batteries. Nevertheless, their low electron conductivity and aggregation propensity restrict their applicability. This investigation employs a temporary scaffold of ZIF-67 to produce a nanotube assembly of Ni-Co-LDH encapsulated within an N-doped graphene sponge. The electrochemically developed interface has an extended active surface area, and the clumping of LDH nanosheets is effectively inhibited by the design of the nanotube arrangement. Furthermore, the incorporation of nitrogen within the structure of graphene results in a boost of electrical conductivity and provides an increased quantity of active sites. Interfacial electron transport is facilitated by the interfacial rearrangement of charges resulting from p-n heterojunctions and fosters redox activity. In this study, the researchers have presented the double role played by the nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) nanotubes in improving the polysulphide (LiPS) conversion and decreasing the movement of the sulphur (S) ions by forming surface-bound intermediates. The battery that was fabricated using the above composite cathode mixture showed a higher energy storage ability, i.e., 1190.0 mA h g-1 at J = 0.2. Furthermore, the battery showed a significantly higher capacity to rapidly supply energy and displayed a rate capacity of 670.1 mA h g-1 at J = 5C. Also, the above battery displayed a longer cycle life, with 1000 charge-discharge cycles and the deterioration rate of 0.029% for each cycle.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.