Posted in | News | Battery | Nanotechnology

Researchers Enhance Battery Performance Using Porous Carbon Nanoparticles

A team of researchers, led by Linda Nazar from the Waterloo University in Canada and Thomas Bein from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen (LMU) Munich, has synthesized porous carbon nanoparticles that use sulfur molecules to optimize the efficiency of lithium-sulfur batteries, a major breakthrough in the advancement of this next-generation of batteries.

In lithium-sulfur battery prototypes, exchange of lithium ions takes place between sulfur- and lithium-carbon electrodes. Under optimal conditions, two lithium ions can be absorbed by every sulfur atom. Hence sulfur can be used as a superior energy storage material owing to its low weight. However, electron transportation in sulfur is very difficult during charging and discharging due to its poor electrical conductivity.

To optimize the design of the lithium-sulfur battery, the researchers at Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM) are working on integrating a nanostructured conductive material to fabricate sulfur phases with largest possible interface area for better electron transportation. As part of this effort, Thomas Bein’s research team at NIM initially synthesized a network of porous carbon nanoparticles with 3-6 nm width pores, which enable homogenous distribution of sulfur. This carbon nanostructure not only makes all sulfur atoms available for absorbing the lithium ions but also places them nearby the conductive carbon.

Thomas Bein explained that the sulfur was highly stabilized and electrically accessible in the porous carbon nanoparticles so that the team was able to attain good cycle stability and a high initial capacity of 1200 mAh/g. The study results emphasize the importance of nano-morphology to improve the performance of innovative energy storage designs. The mesoporous carbon nanoparticles developed by the team have a record surface area of 2445 m2/g and an internal pore volume of 2.32 cm3/g.

The carbon nanostructure minimizes the problem associated with polysulfide, which negatively affects the charging and discharging capability of the battery by forming as intermediate products during the electrochemical processes. The polysulfides are bonded to the carbon network until they have been converted to the desired dilithium sulfide. The researchers applied a thin silicon oxide layer over the carbon material for protecting it from polysulfides without compromising conductivity.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Chai, Cameron. (2019, March 01). Researchers Enhance Battery Performance Using Porous Carbon Nanoparticles. AZoCleantech. Retrieved on December 05, 2024 from https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=16427.

  • MLA

    Chai, Cameron. "Researchers Enhance Battery Performance Using Porous Carbon Nanoparticles". AZoCleantech. 05 December 2024. <https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=16427>.

  • Chicago

    Chai, Cameron. "Researchers Enhance Battery Performance Using Porous Carbon Nanoparticles". AZoCleantech. https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=16427. (accessed December 05, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Chai, Cameron. 2019. Researchers Enhance Battery Performance Using Porous Carbon Nanoparticles. AZoCleantech, viewed 05 December 2024, https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=16427.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.