Exploiting Pulping Waste as an Ecofriendly Multifunctional Binder for Lithium Sulfur Batteries

Lithium sulfur (Li–S) batteries have drawn tremendous interest owing to high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the practical application of Li–S batteries is severely restricted by limited cycle life and high self-discharge rate. Here, for the first time, one papermaking waste, calcium lignosulfonate (LSCa), is employed as a novel ecofriendly multifunctional binder for Li–S batteries. The LSCa electrode retains a capacity of 453 mAh g–1 after 500 cycles at 1C (1C = 1675 mA g–1), and it delivers a high capacity of 571 mAh g–1 even at 5C, the performance of which is much better than that of conventional PVDF electrode. Furthermore, a preferable areal capacity of 4.16 mAh cm–2 after 100 cycles at 0.05C is obtained with a high sulfur loading of 7.64 mg cm–2. These achievements are ascribed to the better adsorption ability to polysulfides, more favorable Li+ transportation, and superior adhesion property of the LSCa, compared to PVDF.