Optimization of the Fabrication of Pyrite Cathode Through The Sulfurization of Steel Spacers
Board Location: #123
Discipline: Nanoscience or Materials Science
Subcategory: Nanoscience
Session: 1
Chevel Samuels - Norfolk State University
Co-Author(s): Sondai Riddick(1), Clifford Denize(1), Makhes Behera(1), Messaoud Bahoura(1,2)1 Center for Materials Research, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 235042 Department of Engineering, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23504
Batteries have become an indispensable part of our modern life. They are storage devices that provide charge through an electrochemical process. Lithium-ion Batteries (LiB) provide an alternative energy source that can be recharged. This research is focused on developing iron pyrite (FeS2) thin films to operate as the positive electrode optimizing Lithium-ion batteries. Pyrite cathodes are attractive because they are an inexpensive alternate material with a high theoretical capacity of 894 mAh/g. However, the advancement in developing practical Li/FeS2 batteries has been hindered by the inferior cyclability of the FeS2 cathode. To fabricate pyrite thin films, we used the method of sulfurizing steel spacers. This experiment tested and compared the performance of sulfurized steel spacer thin films as a function of mass (1g or 0.5 g of sulfur), temperature (450°C vs. 500°C), and sulfurization time( 2hr vs. 4hr). The equipment necessary to conduct this research is a 3-Zone Furnace, XRD (X-ray diffraction), CV(cyclic voltammetry), Raman spectroscopy, and a glove box. The standard thin films were produced with 1g of sulfur, in the furnace at 180°C for vaporization, and sulfurized at 500 °C for two and four hours. The mass condition spacers were kept the same parameters as standards except the amount of sulfur used was changed from 1g to 0.5 g. The temperature condition spacer also retained the same parameters changing the sulfurization temperature to 450°C. The thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. All samples displayed peaks between 30-80 degrees in XRD and peaks close to or on Raman shifts. Next, thin films were constructed into PAT cells in the glove box under inert conditions, and ran for one cycle with cyclic voltammetry. The CV graphs showed reduction peaks on top and oxidation peaks below. The scans were similar to each other suggesting similar active materials for each of the samples produced. The sulfurization of steel spacers with the mass condition yields the best characterization results and cyclic voltammetry performance. We also plan on further analyzing the graphs from XRD and Raman in different functions and parameters. Our thin films will be further characterized using XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. To perfect the process of creating Pyrite thin films through the sulfurization of steel spacers, we will continue to optimize the growth parameters.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF CREST Grant HRD 1547771 NSF CREST grant # 2112595
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Messaoud Bahoura, mbahoura@nsu.edu
Role: I contributed to all aspects of this research project. After observation and training within the lab, I focused on sulfurizing stainless-steel substrates under the mass condition, characterizing them using XRD and Raman instruments, constructing PAT cells, and then carrying out and analyzing CV scans.