High performance lithium-sulfur batteries for storing pulsed energy generated by triboelectric nanogenerators

Weixing Song; Chao Wang; Baoheng Gan; Mengmeng Liu; Jianxiong Zhu; Xihui Nan; Ning Chen; Chunwen Sun; Jitao Chen

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-00545-6

Scientific Reports (Mar 2017)

High performance lithium-sulfur batteries for storing pulsed energy generated by triboelectric nanogenerators

Weixing Song,
Chao Wang,
Baoheng Gan,
Mengmeng Liu,
Jianxiong Zhu,
Xihui Nan,
Ning Chen,
Chunwen Sun,
Jitao Chen

Affiliations

Weixing Song: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST)
Chao Wang: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University
Baoheng Gan: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST)
Mengmeng Liu: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST)
Jianxiong Zhu: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST)
Xihui Nan: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST)
Ning Chen: School of materials science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing
Chunwen Sun: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST)
Jitao Chen: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00545-6
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Storing pulsed energy harvested by triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) from ambient mechanical motion is an important technology for obtaining sustainable, low-cost, and green power. Here, we introduce high-energy-density Li-S batteries with excellent performance for storing pulsed output from TENGs. The sandwich-structured sulfur composites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polypyrrole serve as cathode materials that suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfides and thus preserve the structural stability of the cathode during Li-ion insertion and extraction. The charging time and energy storage efficiency of the Li-S batteries are directly affected by the rotation rates of the TENGs. The average storage efficiency of the batteries for pulsed output from TENGs can exceed 80% and even reach 93% at low discharge currents. The Li-S batteries also show excellent rate performance for storing pulsed energy at a high discharge current rate of 5 C. The high storage efficiency and excellent rate capability and cyclability demonstrate the feasibility of storing and exploiting pulsed energy provided by TENGs and the potential of Li-S batteries with high energy storage efficiency for storing pulsed energy harvested by TENGs.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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