Dec 3, 2024
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Hynes, Level 1, Hall A
Bikram Mondal1,Shahab Ahmad1
Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur1
Tungsten disulfide (WS
2), among various transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), has garnered significant attention as a potential intercalation host material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This interest is attributed to its unique graphite-like layered structure, high theoretical specific capacity of 433 mAh g
-1, relatively low cost, and excellent charge transport and mechanical properties [1]. However, WS
2 based anodes face several challenges, including pulverization, low electronic and ionic conductivities, an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, and thermal runaway issues, which limit their application in practical devices [1]. To address the technical challenges of WS
2-based anodes in LIBs, recent research has focused on hybrid nanostructure-based anodes [2–4]. We demonstrate the effective functionalization of WS
2 nanoflakes and MWCNT (multiwalled carbon nanotube) bundles using the n-type semiconducting polymer PCBM (Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester). This functionalization facilitates the formation of hybrid nanostructures, resulting in significantly enhanced performance of WS
2 anodes in LIB applications. PCBM functioned as a conductive bridge between the WS
2 hexagonal nanoflakes and the MWCNT bundles, thereby significantly reducing junction resistance. Additionally, PCBM functionalization mitigated the agglomeration and pulverization of the WS
2 nanoflakes. The functionalization of WS
2 and MWCNTs with PCBM is confirmed by the FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. The demonstrated WS
2-PCBM/MWCNT hybrid nanostructures based anodes were cycled for 500 cycles at current density of 1.0 A g
-1, where has shown a stable average discharge specific capacity of ~485.73 mAh g
-1 with coulombic efficiency (CE) of close to 100% [5]. In addition, the PVDF binder-free WS
2-PCBM/MWCNT hybrid nanostructure-based anode has displayed an average discharge specific capacities of ~1224 mAh g
-1 for up to 25 cycles at current density of 0.1 A g
-1 with coulombic efficiency of ~99.99%. Thus, our work offers new avenues to explore the utility of PCBM as a carbon conductive to boost the performance of the WS
2 based anodes for Li-ions and other metal-ion batteries. Additionally, our findings offer a groundbreaking and scalable methodology for the development of traditional binder-free electrodes.
References:
[1] Y. Song, S. Bai, L. Zhu, M. Zhao, D. Han, S. Jiang, Y. N. Zhou,
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2018,
10, 13606.
[2] Y. Wang, D. Kong, W. Shi, B. Liu, G. J. Sim, Q. Ge, H. Y. Yang,
Adv. Energy Mater. 2016,
6, 1.
[3] H. Xu, L. Sun, W. Li, M. Gao, Q. Zhou, P. Li, S. Yang, J. Lin,
Chem. Eng. J. 2022,
435, 135129.
[4] S. Ahmad, D. Copic, C. George, M. De Volder,
Adv. Mater. 2016,
28, 6705.
[5]
B. Mondal, A. Azam, S. Ahmad,
Energy and Fuels 2023,
37, 16105.