Sulfur loaded CNT sheets for high performance lithium-ion batteries

With increased focus on electric vehicles, there is a surging demand of LIBs with higher energy density, enhanced gravimetric/volumetric capacity, better safety, and improved cycle performance. One of the parameters which decrease the energy density of LIBs is the weight of the inactive materials like conductive additives, binder, and the current collector in the battery. In this study, the electrochemical performance of self-supporting conductive CNT sheets as anodes for LIB has been investigated. The morphology, crystallinity and defect structure of carbonaceous materials have been reported to play crucial roles in the performance of LIBs. Hence, the CNT sheet has been modified with sulfur loading which leads to formation of defect in its structure. CNT sheet loaded with S showed a capacity retention of more than 90%, reversible capacity of 400 mAhg^-1 at a current density of 0.05A g^-1 for 100 cycles against Li-ion half-cell. (author)