Integration of Desulfurization and Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Enabled by Amino-Functionalized Porous Carbon Nanofibers

Hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)is an industrial exhausted gas that is highly toxic to humans and the environment.Combining desulfurization and fabrication of cathode materials for lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)can solve this issue with a double benefit.Herein,the amino-functionalized lotus root-like carbon nanofibers(NH_(2)-PLCNFs)are prepared by the amination of electrospinning carbon nanofibers under dielectric barrier discharge plasma.Selective catalytic oxidation of H_(2)S to elemental sulfur(S)is achieved over the metalfree NH_(2)-PLCNFs catalyst,and the obtained composite S@NH_(2)-PLCNFs is further used as cathode in LSBs.NH_(2)-PLCNFs enable efficient desulfurization(removal capacity as high as 3.46 g H_(2)S g^(−1) catalyst)and strongly covalent stabilization of S on modified carbon nanofibers.LSBs equipped with S@NH_(2)-PLCNFs deliver a high specific capacity of 705.8 mA h g^(−1) at 1 C after 1000 cycles based on the spatial confinement and the covalent stabilization of electroactive materials on amino-functionalized porous carbon matrix.It is revealed that S@NH_(2)-PLCNFs obtained by this kind of chemical vapor deposition leads to a more homogeneous S distribution and superior electrochemical performance to the sample S/NH_(2)-PLCNF-M prepared by the traditional molten infusion.This work opens a new avenue for the combination of environment protection and energy storage.