Porous Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> Nanofibers Prepared via Reactive Needle-Less Electrospinning for Application in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

oleh: Ivan Shepa, Erika Mudra, Dominika Capkova, Alexandra Kovalcikova, Ondrej Petrus, Frantisek Kromka, Ondrej Milkovic, Vitaliy Antal, Matej Balaz, Maksym Lisnichuk, Dominika Marcin-Behunova, Dóra Zalka, Jan Dusza

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-11-01

Deskripsi

This contribution describes the preparation, coupled with detailed characterization, of Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> 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/Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> fibers, which were transformed into porous ceramic Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> 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 m<sup>2</sup>/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 Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>. 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<sup>−1</sup>, while the reversible capacity of 406 mAh∙g<sup>−1</sup> was retained after 200 cycles, representing a capacity retention of 71.3%. The presence of Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> nanofibers in the carbon cathode inhibits the shuttle effect through polysulphide confinement, which originates from porosity and chemical trapping.