Rhizopus Hyphae Carbon as Efficient Sulfur Host For Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Construction of advanced carbon material is critical for the development of high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. In this work, we report Rhizopus hyphae biomass carbon (RHBC) as a host material for the sulfur cathode of lithium–sulfur batteries. The porous structure of the RHBC is optimized through hydrothermal activation using KOH solution. The introduction of RHBC into the cathode not only enhances the electronic conductivity of the sulfur cathode, but also substantially improves the capacity of the active materials. Additionally, the RHBC can effectively relieve the volume expansion problem of the sulfur conversion reaction and maintain structural stability, leading to improved lifetime and capacity. Accordingly, the KOH-activated RHBC/S cathode presents initial discharge specific capacity of 748 mAh/g at current density of 0.1 C. Furthermore, the porous structure facilitates rapid transport of electrons and ions, thereby enabling good high-rate performance.