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Vol. 14 (2022)

Atomically Dispersed Iron Active Sites Promoting Reversible Redox Kinetics and Suppressing Shuttle Effect in Aluminum–Sulfur Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00915-4
Fei Wang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Min Jiang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Tianshuo Zhao
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Pengyu Meng
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Jianmin Ren
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Zhaohui Yang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Jiao Zhang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Chaopeng Fu
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Baode Sun
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Chaopeng Fu

chaopengfu@sjtu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 14 (2022), Article Number: 169

Abstract

Rechargeable aluminum–sulfur (Al–S) batteries have been considered as a highly potential energy storage system owing to the high theoretical capacity, good safety, abundant natural reserves, and low cost of Al and S. However, the research progress of Al–S batteries is limited by the slow kinetics and shuttle effect of soluble polysulfides intermediates. Herein, an interconnected free-standing interlayer of iron single atoms supported on porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (FeSAs-NCF) on the separator is developed and used as both catalyst and chemical barrier for Al–S batteries. The atomically dispersed iron active sites (Fe–N4) are clearly identified by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption near-edge structure. The Al–S battery with the FeSAs-NCF shows an improved specific capacity of 780 mAh g−1 and enhanced cycle stability. As evidenced by experimental and theoretical results, the atomically dispersed iron active centers on the separator can chemically adsorb the polysulfides and accelerate reaction kinetics to inhibit the shuttle effect and promote the reversible conversion between aluminum polysulfides, thus improving the electrochemical performance of the Al–S battery. This work provides a new way that can not only promote the conversion of aluminum sulfides but also suppress the shuttle effect in Al–S batteries.


Highlights:


1 Fe single atoms supported on porous carbon nanofiber are prepared by spatial confinement.
2 The iron single atoms supported on porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (FeSAs-NCF) can promote the reversible conversion between aluminum polysulfides.
3 The FeSAs-NCF can chemically anchor the polysulfides to suppress shuttle effect.

Keywords

Fe single atom Aluminum–sulfur battery Catalysis Shuttle effect Separator modification
Wang, Fei, Min Jiang, Tianshuo Zhao, Pengyu Meng, Jianmin Ren, Zhaohui Yang, Jiao Zhang, Chaopeng Fu, and Baode Sun. 2022. “Atomically Dispersed Iron Active Sites Promoting Reversible Redox Kinetics and Suppressing Shuttle Effect in Aluminum–Sulfur Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 14 (August):169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00915-4.
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