TY - JOUR
T1 - Porous Nb2O5 Nanofibers Prepared via Reactive Needle-Less Electrospinning for Application in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
AU - Shepa, Ivan
AU - Mudra, Erika
AU - Capkova, Dominika
AU - Kovalcikova, Alexandra
AU - Petrus, Ondrej
AU - Kromka, Frantisek
AU - Milkovic, Ondrej
AU - Antal, Vitaliy
AU - Balaz, Matej
AU - Lisnichuk, Maksym
AU - Marcin-Behunova, Dominika
AU - Zalka, Dóra
AU - Dusza, Jan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - This contribution describes the preparation, coupled with detailed characterization, of Nb2O5 nanofibers and their application in lithium–sulfur batteries for the improvement of electrochemical performance. The utilization of reactive needle-less electrospinning allowed us to obtain, in a single step, amorphous pre-ceramic composite PAN/Nb2O5 fibers, which were transformed into porous ceramic Nb2O5 nanofibers via calcination. Thermogravimetric studies defined that calcination at 600 °C results in crystalline ceramic fibers without carbon residues. The fibrous morphology and mean diameter (614 ± 100 nm) of the ceramic nanofibers were analyzed via scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A surface area of 7.472 m2/g was determined through nitrogen adsorption measurements, while a combination of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy was used to show the crystallinity and composition of the fibers after calcination—single T-phase Nb2O5. Its performance in the cathode of lithium–sulfur batteries was defined through electrochemical tests, and the obtained results were compared to a similar blank electrode. The initial discharge capacity of 0.5 C reached a value of 570 mAh∙g−1, while the reversible capacity of 406 mAh∙g−1 was retained after 200 cycles, representing a capacity retention of 71.3%. The presence of Nb2O5 nanofibers in the carbon cathode inhibits the shuttle effect through polysulphide confinement, which originates from porosity and chemical trapping.
AB - This contribution describes the preparation, coupled with detailed characterization, of Nb2O5 nanofibers and their application in lithium–sulfur batteries for the improvement of electrochemical performance. The utilization of reactive needle-less electrospinning allowed us to obtain, in a single step, amorphous pre-ceramic composite PAN/Nb2O5 fibers, which were transformed into porous ceramic Nb2O5 nanofibers via calcination. Thermogravimetric studies defined that calcination at 600 °C results in crystalline ceramic fibers without carbon residues. The fibrous morphology and mean diameter (614 ± 100 nm) of the ceramic nanofibers were analyzed via scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A surface area of 7.472 m2/g was determined through nitrogen adsorption measurements, while a combination of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy was used to show the crystallinity and composition of the fibers after calcination—single T-phase Nb2O5. Its performance in the cathode of lithium–sulfur batteries was defined through electrochemical tests, and the obtained results were compared to a similar blank electrode. The initial discharge capacity of 0.5 C reached a value of 570 mAh∙g−1, while the reversible capacity of 406 mAh∙g−1 was retained after 200 cycles, representing a capacity retention of 71.3%. The presence of Nb2O5 nanofibers in the carbon cathode inhibits the shuttle effect through polysulphide confinement, which originates from porosity and chemical trapping.
KW - lithium–sulfur batteries
KW - nanofibers
KW - needle-less electrospinning
KW - niobia
KW - oxide ceramics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180525910&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/inorganics11120456
DO - 10.3390/inorganics11120456
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85180525910
SN - 2304-6740
VL - 11
JO - Inorganics
JF - Inorganics
IS - 12
M1 - 456
ER -