Edge-selective nitrogen engineering of carbon nanofibers by dye-induced self-etching for enhanced polysulfide adsorption and conversion in Li–S batteries
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are regarded as candidates for next-generation batteries attributed to low cost of sulfur resources and high energy density. Despite these advantages, their practical implementation is hampered by intrinsically insulating sulfur property, slow redox kinetics, and migration of dissolved lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), inducing rapid capacity fading. Herein, we report edge-N-enriched carbon nanofibers (EN-CNFs) enabled by a dye-induced selective etching strategy. The use of tartrazine enables in-situ chemical etching during thermal treatment, generating abundant defect and edge sites that promote selective formation of pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen while suppressing graphitic nitrogen. Notably, this approach allows decoupling of surface chemistry from bulk structural evolution, enabling selective enrichment of edge-type nitrogen without significantly altering the overall carbon framework. Spectroscopic analyses provide mechanistic insight into edge-nitrogen formation behavior, while theoretical calculations support the stronger interaction of edge-type nitrogen with LiPSs. As a result, EN-CNFs exhibit efficient LiPSs confinement and enhanced Li–S batteries performance. This study suggests a viable approach for selectively enriching active edge-type nitrogen and provides design principles for controlling nitrogen configuration in carbon-based sulfur hosts.
Source: Applied Surface Science Advances
Institution: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,350
OpenAlex ID: W7218405502