Preparation of micropore-rich high surface area activated carbon from N-doped carbon precursor and its application to positive electrode in lithium-sulfur battery

Abstract

Micropore-rich activated carbon with high surface area and pore volume was prepared by alkali activation of azulmic carbon (AZC) precursor as nitrogen-doped carbon; AZC was a carbonized product from azulmic acid. We successfully loaded a large amount of sulfur (S) into micropores of the activated AZC. Our two kinds of activated AZC (BET surface area: 1,747 and 2,319m2 g-1) can include S up to 55 and 62wt%, respectively. The former activated AZC including S can be charged and discharged with lithium (Li) ion transfer stably and reversibly in glyme-based and carbonate-based electrolytes. The latter activated AZC can be charged and discharged in a glyme-based electrolyte. These different characteristics are due to a difference in fine pore structure between them. Our microporous activated AZC with high S loading is promising material as positive S electrode for rechargeable Li-S batteries.