Facile Synthesis of Sulfur–Polypyrrole as Cathodes for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Abstract To explore the potential application of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) in the emerging electric vehicle market, sulfur–polypyrrole (S‐PPy) is prepared by a facile ball‐milling route, in which polypyrrole is synthesized by using ferric chloride as an oxidant in a self‐degrading template method. Compared with sulfur, S‐PPy possesses a higher discharge capacity, much better cycling stability, and better rate performance. At a current density of 200 mA g −1 , the discharge capacity of S‐PPy is maintained at 675 mA h g −1 after 150 cycles, and even at a current density of 1675 mA g −1 , the retained discharge capacity is still 617 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles. The retained discharge capacity of pure sulfur, however, is only 150 mA h g −1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g −1 . These results indicate that S‐PPy, with its facile, low‐cost, and eco‐friendly synthesis, could be a potential cathode material for LSBs.