Sustainable Cow Hair Biocarbon-Sulfur Cathodes with Enhanced Electrochemical Performance

BRACAMONTE, M. VICTORIA; GUILLERMINA L. LUQUE; C. ANDREA CALDERÓN; COMETTO, FERNANDO PABLO; SOFIA RAVIOLO; MELINA COZZARIN; EZEQUIEL LEIVA; DANIEL BARRACO

ChemistrySelect

Wiley-VCH

Año: 2023

2365-6549

A sustainable cow hair-based biocarbon/sulfur composite wasprepared via a melt-diffusion process and used as cathode forlithium–sulfur (Li S) batteries, exhibiting high capacity, goodrate capability, and excellent cyclability. The effect of theactivation process during the formation of the biocarbon wasdeeply analyzed by thermogravimetry, N2 adsorption, X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microcopy, among others. A correlation between thecomposition and the surface area with the electrochemicalperformance was found. The best results were obtained usingan activated sample and composite electrode containing73 wt% sulfur, which present an initial discharge capacity ofaround 1200 mAh/g and 799 mAh/g after 100 cycles at acurrent density of 0.1 A/g. Moreover, a specific capacity of~701 mAh/g was measured at 1 C. The great electrochemicalperformance of this electrode in Li S batteries is attributed tothe porous carbon structure. Taking into account that hair isone of the major waste produced in the leather sector, thiswork presents a promising approach to reuse this material bygiving it added value through the preparation of carbon/sulfurcomposites for high-performance Li S batter