Synthesis of CuxS/Cu nanotubes and their lithium storage properties

• Main Authors: Cai, Ren, Chen, Jing, Zhu, Jixin, Xu, Chen, Zhang, Wenyu, Zhang, Cuimiao, Shi, Wenhui, Tan, Huiteng, Yang, Dan, Lim, Tuti Mariana, Hng, Huey Hoon, Yan, Qingyu
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science and Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/99105; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17242
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Novel CuxS/Cu (1 < x <2) nanotubes were prepared by a facile wet chemical approach in polyethylene glycol (PEG). Here, Cu nanowires were presynthesized and then converted to nanotubes via a mass diffusion process. A thin PEG layer is physically adsorbed on the nanotube surface. The obtained CuxS/Cu nanotubes show good Li storage properties with stable cyclability upon Li ion insertion/extraction, which is attributed to the existence of the PEG capping and the reduced dissolution of Li polysulfides into the electrolytes. Furthermore, CuxS/Cu nanotubes with 10 wt % Cu show promising rate capabilities (a fifth-cycle discharge capacity of 282 mA h g–1 at a current density of 5 A g–1) due to the enhanced kinetics of charge transfer.