Applied Surface Science, Vol.469, 404-413, 2019
Tailoring the structure of clew-like carbon skeleton with 2D Co-MOF for advanced Li-S cells
Metal organic frameworks (MOF)-derived carbon materials can realize self-doping of heteroatoms in situ, which can effectively improve the electrocatalytic activity of electrode material, those are therefore considered as ideal cathode materials for Li-S battery. In this context, the clews of polymer nanobelts (CsPNBs) are regarded as sacrificial template materials, and Co-based metal-organic frameworks (Co-MOF) are in-situ growth on the surface of CsPNBs, after carbonization and activation, the Co-doped hybrid materials are obtained. The physicochemical properties of these hybrid materials can be changed by adjusting activation time and by adding some amount of CsPNBs. When evaluated as a cathode for Li-S batteries, the hybrid nano-architecture exhibits high initial capacities of 1300.69 and 1020.6 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 and 0.5C, respectively. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the electrode is closely related to the accessible pore structures optimization as well as Co-doping has cobalt and oxygen-containing groups on the surface of the matrix material. With the help of those advantages, the areal mass loading of the electrodes is improved. Overall, a rarely demonstrated study that involves the correlation between structure and performance of the MOF-derived hybrid materials is systematically elucidated in this work. This research study is crucial to the precise tailoring of the growth for the MOF-derived carbon superstructure to meet their demanding challenge as the electrode materials.