Parametric optimization of sulfur@graphene composites for aqueous and solid-state rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium‑sulfur batteries have great potential for use in electric vehicles and power grids, but the poor conductivity and volume expansion of sulfur during the lithiation process have hindered their commercialization. One potential solution is to entrap elemental sulfur between graphene parallel sheets, which can improve the conductivity and stability of the battery. This work reports on a parametric study of a method for incorporating sulfur into graphene sheets using ultrasonication and low surface tension solvents. Results show that the method is successful in loading sulfur between graphene sheets, with a maximum of 36.48 wt% sulfur. The resulting nanocomposite material was found to have stable cycling performance over 150 cycles with fast C-regime for aqueous lithium‑sulfur battery making it a promising candidate for use in lithium‑sulfur batteries. But more research is required to optimize S@G-50's performance in all-solid-state systems and address associated challenges to improve cycling performance.