An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature
Room-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries offer a superior, high-energy-density solution for rechargeable batteries using earth-abundant materials. However, conventional RT Na–S batteries typically use sulfur as the cathode, which suffers from severe volume expansion and requires pairing wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Batteries |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/9 |
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| author | Sichang Ma Yueming Zhu Yadong Yang Dongyang Li Wendong Tan Ling Gao Wanwei Zhao Wenbo Liu Wenyu Liang Rui Xu |
| author_facet | Sichang Ma Yueming Zhu Yadong Yang Dongyang Li Wendong Tan Ling Gao Wanwei Zhao Wenbo Liu Wenyu Liang Rui Xu |
| author_sort | Sichang Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Room-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries offer a superior, high-energy-density solution for rechargeable batteries using earth-abundant materials. However, conventional RT Na–S batteries typically use sulfur as the cathode, which suffers from severe volume expansion and requires pairing with a sodium metal anode, raising significant safety concerns. Utilizing Na<sub>2</sub>S as the cathode material addresses these issues, yet challenges such as Na<sub>2</sub>S’s low conductivity as well as the shuttle effect of polysulfide still hinder RT Na–S battery development. Herein, we present a simple and cost-effective method to fabricate a Na<sub>2</sub>S–Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub>/Co@C cathode, wherein Na<sub>2</sub>S nanoparticles are embedded in a conductive carbon matrix and coupled with dual catalysts, Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub> and Co, generated via the in situ carbothermal reduction of Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> and CoSO<sub>4</sub>. This approach creates a three-dimensional porous composite cathode structure that facilitates electrolyte infiltration and forms a continuous conductive network for efficient electron transport. The in situ formed Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub>/Co electrocatalysts, tightly integrated with Na<sub>2</sub>S, exhibit strong catalytic activity and robust physicochemical stabilization, thereby accelerating redox kinetics and mitigating the polysulfide shuttle effect. As a result, the Na<sub>2</sub>S–Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub>/Co@C cathode achieves superior capacity retention, demonstrating a discharge capacity of 346 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> after 100 cycles. This work highlights an effective strategy for enhancing Na<sub>2</sub>S cathodes with embedded catalysts, leading to enhanced reaction kinetics and superior cycling stability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-74b2191d0c89421dbcdf785f42b03b6d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2313-0105 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Batteries |
| spelling | doaj-art-74b2191d0c89421dbcdf785f42b03b6d2025-01-24T13:22:23ZengMDPI AGBatteries2313-01052024-12-01111910.3390/batteries11010009An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room TemperatureSichang Ma0Yueming Zhu1Yadong Yang2Dongyang Li3Wendong Tan4Ling Gao5Wanwei Zhao6Wenbo Liu7Wenyu Liang8Rui Xu9School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaRoom-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries offer a superior, high-energy-density solution for rechargeable batteries using earth-abundant materials. However, conventional RT Na–S batteries typically use sulfur as the cathode, which suffers from severe volume expansion and requires pairing with a sodium metal anode, raising significant safety concerns. Utilizing Na<sub>2</sub>S as the cathode material addresses these issues, yet challenges such as Na<sub>2</sub>S’s low conductivity as well as the shuttle effect of polysulfide still hinder RT Na–S battery development. Herein, we present a simple and cost-effective method to fabricate a Na<sub>2</sub>S–Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub>/Co@C cathode, wherein Na<sub>2</sub>S nanoparticles are embedded in a conductive carbon matrix and coupled with dual catalysts, Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub> and Co, generated via the in situ carbothermal reduction of Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> and CoSO<sub>4</sub>. This approach creates a three-dimensional porous composite cathode structure that facilitates electrolyte infiltration and forms a continuous conductive network for efficient electron transport. The in situ formed Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub>/Co electrocatalysts, tightly integrated with Na<sub>2</sub>S, exhibit strong catalytic activity and robust physicochemical stabilization, thereby accelerating redox kinetics and mitigating the polysulfide shuttle effect. As a result, the Na<sub>2</sub>S–Na<sub>6</sub>CoS<sub>4</sub>/Co@C cathode achieves superior capacity retention, demonstrating a discharge capacity of 346 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> after 100 cycles. This work highlights an effective strategy for enhancing Na<sub>2</sub>S cathodes with embedded catalysts, leading to enhanced reaction kinetics and superior cycling stability.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/9room-temperature sodium–sulfur batteriesNa<sub>2</sub>S cathodeshuttle effectsodium polysulfidescatalysts |
| spellingShingle | Sichang Ma Yueming Zhu Yadong Yang Dongyang Li Wendong Tan Ling Gao Wanwei Zhao Wenbo Liu Wenyu Liang Rui Xu An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature Batteries room-temperature sodium–sulfur batteries Na<sub>2</sub>S cathode shuttle effect sodium polysulfides catalysts |
| title | An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature |
| title_full | An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature |
| title_fullStr | An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature |
| title_short | An Integrated Na<sub>2</sub>S−Electrocatalyst Nanostructured Cathode for Sodium–Sulfur Batteries at Room Temperature |
| title_sort | integrated na sub 2 sub s electrocatalyst nanostructured cathode for sodium sulfur batteries at room temperature |
| topic | room-temperature sodium–sulfur batteries Na<sub>2</sub>S cathode shuttle effect sodium polysulfides catalysts |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/9 |
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