Effects of Photochemical Oxidation of the Carbonaceous Additives on Li–S Cell Performance

We introduce a simple and easy way to functionalize the surface of various carbonaceous materials through the ultraviolet light/ozone (UV/O3) plasma where we utilize the zero-, one-, and two-dimensional carbon frameworks. In a general manner, the lamps of a UV/O3 generator create two different wavelengths (λ = 185 and 254 nm); the shorter wavelength (λ = 185 nm) dissociates the oxygen (O2) in air and the longer wavelength (λ = 254 nm) dissociates the O3 and creates the reactive and monoatomic oxygen radical, which tends to incorporate onto the defects of the carbons. By tailoring the association and dissociation of the oxygen with various forms, carbon black, carbon nanofibers, and graphite flakes, chosen as representative models for the zero-, one-, and two-dimensional carbon frameworks, their structure can be oxidized, respectively, which is known as photochemical oxidation. Various carbons have their own distinctive morphology and electron transport properties, which are applicable for the lithium–sulfur (Li–S) cell. We, here, report on the improvement of electrochemical performance of the lithium/sulfur cell through such an efficient functionalization approach.