Yusheng Ye

All Publications

• Development and Challenges of Functional Electrolytes for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS Wang, L., Ye, Y., Chen, N., Huang, Y., Li, L., Wu, F., Chen, R. 2018; 28 (38)

  View details for DOI 10.1002/adfm.201800919

  View details for Web of Science ID 000444672000016

• Flexible, conductive, and highly pressure-sensitive graphene-polyimide foam for pressure sensor application COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Yang, J., Ye, Y., Li, X., Lu, X., Chen, R. 2018; 164: 187–94

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.compscitech.2018.05.044

  View details for Web of Science ID 000440121700023

• Designing Realizable and Scalable Techniques for Practical Lithium Sulfur Batteries: A Perspective JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS Ye, Y., Wu, F., Xu, S., Qu, W., Li, L., Chen, R. 2018; 9 (6): 1398–1414

  Abstract

  To progress from the coin lithium sulfur (Li-S) cell to practical applications, it would be necessary to investigate industrially scalable methods to produce high-quality and large quantities of Li-S configurations. In this Perspective, we focused on the feasibility of scalable production of high-quality and large quantities of cathode composite, the construction of highly safe and highly stable electrolyte, and durable lithium metal anode. The results presented here suggest that the construction of highly secondary microstructures from nanoparticles is the key solution to achieve scalable cathode composite. Developing unconventional electrolyte solvent is a meaningful approach to develop high safety Li-S batteries. The high performance and high stability of lithium metal anode will enlighten the practical application of Li-S batteries. This Perspective presents outlooks for the key scalable techniques of realizable Li-S cell in the near future and provides promising strategies to accomplish long-cycle-life, high-energy-density Li-S batteries.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b03165

  View details for Web of Science ID 000427910200037

  View details for PubMedID 29480724

• Toward Practical High-Energy Batteries: A Modular-Assembled Oval-Like Carbon Microstructure for Thick Sulfur Electrodes ADVANCED MATERIALS Ye, Y., Wu, F., Liu, Y., Zhao, T., Qian, J., Xing, Y., Li, W., Huang, J., Li, L., Huang, Q., Bai, X., Chen, R. 2017; 29 (48)

  Abstract

  The modular assembly of microstructures from simple nanoparticles offers a powerful strategy for creating materials with new functionalities. Such microstructures have unique physicochemical properties originating from confinement effects. Here, the modular assembly of scattered ketjen black nanoparticles into an oval-like microstructure via double "Fischer esterification," which is a form of surface engineering used to fine-tune the materials surface characteristics, is presented. After carbonization, the oval-like carbon microstructure shows promise as a candidate sulfur host for the fabrication of thick sulfur electrodes. Indeed, a specific discharge capacity of 8.417 mAh cm-2 at 0.1 C with a high sulfur loading of 8.9 mg cm-2 is obtained. The large-scale production of advanced lithium-sulfur battery pouch cells with an energy density of 460.08 Wh kg-1 @18.6 Ah is also reported. This work provides a radically different approach for tuning the performance of a variety of surfaces for energy storage materials and biological applications by reconfiguring nanoparticles into desired structures.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/adma.201700598

  View details for Web of Science ID 000418272000018

  View details for PubMedID 28429541

• A Praline-Like Flexible Interlayer with Highly Mounted Polysulfide Anchors for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries SMALL Zhao, T., Ye, Y., Lao, C., Divitini, G., Coxon, P. R., Peng, X., He, X., Kim, H., Xi, K., Ducati, C., Chen, R., Liu, Y., Ramakrishna, S., Kumar, R. 2017; 13 (40)

  Abstract

  The development of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is dogged by the rapid capacity decay arising from polysulfide dissolution and diffusion in organic electrolytes. To solve this critical issue, a praline-like flexible interlayer consisting of high-loading titanium oxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles and relatively long carbon nanofibers is fabricated. TiO2 nanoparticles with a size gradient occupy both the external and internal of carbon fiber and serve as anchors that allow the chemical adsorption of polysulfides through a conductive nanoarchitecture. The porous conductive carbon backbone helps in the physical absorption of polysulfides and provides redox reaction sites to allow the polysulfides to be reused. More importantly, it offers enough mechanical strength to support a high load TiO2 nanoparticle (79 wt%) that maximizes their chemical role, and can accommodate the large volume changes. Significant enhancement in cycle stability and rate capability is achieved for a readily available sulfur/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite cathode simply by incorporating this hierarchically nanostructured interlayer. The design and synthesis of interlayers by in situ integration of metal oxides and carbon fibers via a simple route offers the potential to advance Li-S batteries for practical applications in the future.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/smll.201700357

  View details for Web of Science ID 000413416400001

  View details for PubMedID 28834268

• Sulfur Nanodots Stitched in 2D "Bubble-Like" Interconnected Carbon Fabric as Reversibility-Enhanced Cathodes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries ACS NANO Wu, F., Ye, Y., Huang, J., Zhao, T., Qian, J., Zhao, Y., Li, L., Wei, L., Luo, R., Huang, Y., Xing, Y., Chen, R. 2017; 11 (5): 4694–4702

  Abstract

  The behavior of two-dimensional (2D) materials for energy storage systems relates to their morphology and physicochemical properties. Although various 2D materials can be found in different fields, the open access of these materials has greatly hampered their practical applications, such as in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, where the soluble intermediates should be controlled. Here, we have developed a facile approach to prepare 2D ultrathin interconnected carbon fabrics (ICFs) with "bubble-like" morphology and abundant mesopores using a "blowing bubble" method. Serving as independent meso-sized rooms, nanosulfur dots can be stitched in 2D "bubble-like" ICF, which afford a short electron-/ion-transfer path and thus is beneficial to high reversible capacity. Encapsulated with reduced graphene oxide, a binder-free/free-standing cathode was constructed for advanced Li-S batteries. In addition, the specific energy of a pouch Li-S battery with this interconnected cathode can be achieved to 1.55 Ah@315.98 Wh/kg at 0.1 C. These results suggest that the design of "bubble-like" interconnected porous carbon fabrics and their integration with reduced graphene oxide provide a facile strategy to enhance the electrochemical activity of S and have the potential to be applied to other semiconductors or insulating materials for a wide range of applications.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsnano.7b00596

  View details for Web of Science ID 000402498400034

  View details for PubMedID 28448119

• Gluing Carbon Black and Sulfur at Nanoscale: A Polydopamine-Based "Nano-Binder" for Double-Shelled Sulfur Cathodes ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS Wu, F., Ye, Y., Chen, R., Zhao, T., Qian, J., Zhang, X., Li, L., Huang, Q., Bai, X., Cui, Y. 2017; 7 (3)

  View details for DOI 10.1002/aenm.201601591

  View details for Web of Science ID 000394940100013

• Advanced Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Enabled by a Bio-Inspired Polysulfide Adsorptive Brush ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS Zhao, T., Ye, Y., Peng, X., Divitini, G., Kim, H., Lao, C., Coxon, P. R., Xi, K., Liu, Y., Ducati, C., Chen, R., Kumar, R. 2016; 26 (46): 8418–26

  View details for DOI 10.1002/adfm.201604069

  View details for Web of Science ID 000390117800006

• Systematic Effect for an Ultra long Cycle Lithium-Sulfur Battery NANO LETTERS Wu, F., Ye, Y., Chen, R., Qian, J., Zhao, T., Li, L., Li, W. 2015; 15 (11): 7431–39

  Abstract

  Rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are attractive candidates for energy storage devices because they have five times the theoretical energy storage of state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. The main problems plaguing Li-S batteries are poor cycle life and limited rate capability, caused by the insulating nature of S and the shuttle effect associated with the dissolution of intermediate lithium polysulfides. Here, we report the use of biocell-inspired polydopamine (PD) as a coating agent on both the cathode and separator to address these problems (the "systematic effects"). The PD-modified cathode and separator play key roles in facilitating ion diffusion and keeping the cathode structure stable, leading to uniform lithium deposition and a solid electrolyte interphase. As a result, an ultralong cycle performance of more than 3000 cycles, with a capacity fade of only 0.018% per cycle, was achieved at 2 C. It is believed that the systematic modification of the cathode and separator for Li-S batteries is a new strategy for practical applications.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02864

  View details for Web of Science ID 000364725400039

  View details for PubMedID 26502268