Enhancing performance of lithium-sulfur batteries through porous carbon network integration in carbonized cotton

A novel material, Cporous@CC, has been developed by incorporating a porous conductive network into carbonized cotton (CC). This modification significantly enhances the surface area of the material, increasing it from 29.1 to 163.0 m2 g−1. The introduction of the porous network significantly enhances the connection between carbon fibers, resulting in a substantial improvement in electronic conduction, up to 2–3 times greater than bare CC. To evaluate its potential, Cporous@CC was utilized as a conductive host for the cathode-active material in lithium-sulfur batteries. The battery utilizing Cporous@CC as the cathode host demonstrated a higher initial capacity of 1200 mAh g−1 at 0.2C and exhibited superior rate capability across the range of 0.1C to 1.0C, outperforming the CC-based battery. The factors contributing to the enhanced electrochemical performance of the Cporous@CC cell were further elucidated through the utilization of the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique.