Scheme for the fabrication of polymeric phthalocyanine-coated CNTs and its excellent performances for Li-S batteries
Dr Jeongyeon Lee, Research Assistant Professor, recently published a highly impactful article entitled “Multifunctional Polymeric Phthalocyanine-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Redox Mediators of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries” in Advanced Energy Materials (IF: 29.698), with Prof. Ho Seok Park and his team at Sungkyunkwan University.
Dr Lee and his team members reported the synthesis of uniform triethylene glycol (TEG) functionalised polymeric cobalt phthalocyanines (CoPcs) coated onto the surface of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MCs) by using CoPc–MC conjugates. They discussed in detail the formation mechanism of such nanocomposites and explained how their structure is correlated to enhanced transport kinetics, high S loading, and long-term cycling stability when applied as S hosts in Li-S batteries. The novel S hosts offer five distinct characteristics for Li-S batteries:
- The Co ions in the centre of the Pc functions as a redox mediator for LiPS conversion, which improves the reaction kinetics during cycling.
- Elemental N atoms around the Co ions efficiently donate electrons and create polar contacts with the Li atoms of LiPSs to prevent excessive LiPS dissolution.
- By acting as lithiophilic sites that can accommodate Li ions, the oxygen (O) atoms in the TEG linkers mimic the O atoms in 12-crown-4 (a crown ether) and reduce gradients in Li-ion concentration.
- The aromatic rings of the electrons of the Pc increase the electron transport in MCs.
- The TCP coating can inhibit the aggregation of Pcs on MCs, thus producing well-dispersed active metal sites.
Dr Lee has extensively published various research articles in the most recent three years related to energy storage and conversion applications in the following journals: Advanced Energy Materials, Infomat, EnergyChem, Small, Small Methods, and Chemical Engineering Journal, and 8 other papers in SCIE journals.
References:
Kim, Y., Kim, W. I., Park, H., Kim, J. S., Cho, H., Yeon, J. S., Kim, J., Kim, Y.-J., *Lee, J., *Park, H. S., Multifunctional Polymeric Phthalocyanine-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Redox Mediators of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2023, 2204353. (https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202204353)
