Lithium-Metal Free Sulfur Battery Based on Waste Biomass Anode and Nano-Sized Li_(2)S Cathode

The realization of a stable lithium-metal free(LiMF)sulfur battery based on amorphous carbon anode and lithium sulfide(Li_(2)S)cathode is here reported.In particular,a biomass waste originating full-cell combining a carbonized brewer's spent grain(CBSG)biochar anode with a Li_(2)S-graphene composite cathode(Li_(2)S70Gr30)is proposed.This design is particularly attractive for applying a cost-effective,high performance,environment friendly,and safe anode material,as an alternative to standard graphite and metallic lithium in emerging battery technologies.The anodic and cathodic materials are characterized in terms of structure,morphology and composition through X-ray diffraction,scanning and transmission electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies.Furthermore,an electrochemical characterization comprising galvanostatic cycling,rate capability and cyclic voltammetry tests were carried out both in half-cell and full-cell configurations.The systematic investigation reveals that unlike graphite,the biochar electrode displays good compatibility with the electrolyte typically employed in sulfur batteries.The CBSG/Li_(2)S70Gr30 full-cell demonstrates an initial charge and discharge capacities of 726 and 537 mAh g^(-1),respectively,at 0.05C with a coulombic efficiency of 74%.Moreover,it discloses a reversible capacity of 330 mAh g^(-1)(0.1 C)after over 300 cycles.Based on these achievements,the CBSG/Li_(2)S70Gr30 battery system can be considered as a promising energy storage solution for electric vehicles(EVs),especially when taking into account its easy scalability to an industrial level.

Lithium-Metal-Free Sulfur Batteries with Biochar and Steam-Activated Biochar-Based Anodes from Spent Common Ivy

Lithium-sulfur batteries are emerging as sustainable replacements for current lithium-ion batteries.The commercial viability of this novel type of battery is still under debate due to the extensive use of highly reactive lithium-metal anodes and the complex electrochemistry of the sulfur cathode.In this research,a novel sulfur-based battery has been proposed that eliminates the need for metallic lithium anodes and other critical raw materials like cobalt and graphite,replacing them with biomass-derived materials.This approach presents numerous benefits,encompassing ample availability,cost-effectiveness,safety,and environmental friendliness.In particular,two types of biochar-based anode electrodes(non-activated and activated biochar)derived from spent common ivy have been investigated as alternatives to metallic lithium.We compared their structural and electrochemical properties,both of which exhibited good compatibility with the typical electrolytes used in sulfur batteries.Surprisingly,while steam activation results in an increased specific surface area,the non-activated ivy biochar demonstrates better performance than the activated biochar,achieving a stable capacity of 400 mA h g^(−1)at 0.1 A g^(−1)and a long lifespan(>400 cycles at 0.5 A g^(−1)).Our results demonstrate that the presence of heteroatoms,such as oxygen and nitrogen positively affects the capacity and cycling performance of the electrodes.This led to increased d-spacing in the graphitic layer,a strong interaction with the solid electrolyte interphase layer,and improved ion transportation.Finally,the non-activated biochar was successfully coupled with a sulfur cathode to fabricate lithium-metal-free sulfur batteries,delivering a specific energy density of~600 Wh kg^(−1).