Conductive polymer/sulfur composite materials were prepared by heating the mixture of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and sublimed sulfur. During the heating process, PAN was dehydrogenaled by sulfur, forming a conductive main chain similar to polyacetylene. At the same time, the high-polarity functional group -CN cyclized at the melt state, forming a thermally stable heterocyclic compound in which sulfur was embedded. The nanodispersed composites showed excellent electrochemical properties. Tested as cathode material in a non-aqueous lithium cell based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) gel electrolyte at room temperature, the composite exhibited a specific capacity up to 850 mA h g-1 in the initial cycle. Its specific capacity remained above 600 mA h g-1 after 50 cycles, about five times that of LiCoO2, and recovered partly after replacement of the anode with a fresh lithium sheet. The utilization of the electrochemically active sulfur was about 90 % assuming a complete reaction to the product, Li2S.
CITATION STYLE
Wang, J., Yang, J., Wan, C., Du, K., Xie, J., & Xu, N. (2003). Sulfur composite cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. Advanced Functional Materials, 13(6), 487–492. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200304284
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