Puffed carbon/titanium carbide matrix to improve the electrochemical performance of sulfur cathode

Abstract Conductive titanium carbide (TiC) nanoparticles implanted into puffed rice carbon (PRC), forming a highly porous TiC/PRC host, is reported. Typically, PRC possesses cross-linked nano/microsheets with three-dimensional (3D) structure and large surface area, prepared by a puffing strategy. Moreover, TiC is further introduced into the carbon matrix (TiC/PRC) with excellent compatibility. TiC plays a dual role for not only enhancement of conductivity but also adsorption of soluble lithium polysulfides. When employed as a host of sulfur in LSBs, the designed TiC/PRC-S cathode exhibits improved rate capability, high reversible capacity of 1223.0 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C, and long cycling life of 884.5 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance is ascribed to the synergetic work of porous PRC architecture and polar conductive TiC with strong physisorption and chemisorption of soluble polysulfide simultaneously.