Electrodes incorporating composites of graphene and selenium-sulfur compounds for improved rechargeable lithium batteries

1. A battery electrode comprising:

a conductive composition having

a selenium-sulfur compound;

a conductive additive; and

wherein

the selenium-sulfur compound is present as Se x S 8-x ;

1<x <8; and

the conductive additive comprises individual graphene sheets.

2. The battery electrode of claim 1 , wherein 1≤x ≤4.

3. The battery electrode of claim 1 , wherein selenium-sulfur compound comprises Se 2 S 6 .

4. The battery electrode of claim 1 , wherein the conductive additive further comprises graphite, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide, chemically or thermally reduced graphene oxide or graphite oxide, single walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, a hard carbon, a soft carbon, a carbon aerogel, a carbon xerogel, carbide-derived carbon, a templated carbon, and/or an activated carbon.

5. The battery electrode of claim 1 , wherein the conductive additive further comprises a material that conducts electrons or holes, a semiconductor, a semi-material, and/or a metal.

6. The battery electrode of claim 1 , wherein the conductive composition further comprises:

a binder in communication with the selenium-sulfur compound and the conductive additive; and

wherein the binder comprises a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer; polyvinylidene fluoride, and/or polytetrafluorethylene.

7. The battery electrode of claim 1 , further comprising:

a conductive substrate in electrical communication with the conductive composition;

wherein the conductive substrate is in the form of a sheet or mesh; and

wherein the conductive substrate comprises a conductive carbon, aluminum, aluminum coated with a conductive carbon material, copper, titanium, and/or tungsten.

8. The battery electrode of claim 1 , further comprising:

a conductive substrate in electrical communication with the conductive composition;

wherein the conductive substrate is in the form of a sheet or mesh;

wherein the conductive substrate comprises a polymer substrate; and

a carbonaceous material and/or a metallic coating thin film laminated on the conductive substrate.

9. The battery electrode of claim 1 , further comprising:

a conductive substrate in electrical communication with the conductive composition;

wherein the conductive substrate is in the form of a sheet or mesh; and

wherein the conductive composition is coated on or impregnated into the conductive substrate.

10. The battery electrode of claim 1 , further comprising:

a conductive substrate in electrical communication with the conductive composition;

wherein the conductive composition is loaded on the conductive substrate at about at least 4.5 mg/cm 2 .

11. A method for fabricating a battery electrode comprising:

forming conductive compound;

applying the conductive compound onto a conductive substrate;

wherein the conductive compound comprises:

a selenium-sulfur compound;

a conductive additive; and

wherein

the selenium-sulfur compound is present as Se x S 8-x ;

1 <x<8

the conductive additive comprises individual graphene sheets.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein 1≤x ≤4.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conductive substrate comprises a conductive carbon, aluminum, aluminum coated with a conductive carbon material, copper, titanium, and/or tungsten.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selenium-sulfur compound is formed by mixing, wet or dry milling, wet or dry grinding, ultrasonication, dissolution in solvent and precipitation, melting, sublimation, and/or vapor deposition.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conductive composition further comprises:

a binder in communication with the selenium-sulfur compound and the conductive additive; and

wherein the binder comprises a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer; polyvinylidene fluoride, and/or polytetrafluorethylene.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein

the conductive substrate is in the form of a sheet or mesh; and

the conductive substrate comprises a conductive carbon, aluminum, aluminum coated with a conductive carbon material, copper, titanium, and/or tungsten.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein Se—S compound is sublimated or vaporized and condensed on to the conductive additive surface.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conductive additive further comprises a carbonaceous material comprising graphite, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide, chemically or thermally reduced graphene oxide or graphite oxide, carbon nanotubes, a hard carbon, a soft carbon, a carbon aerogel, a carbon xerogel, carbide-derived carbon, a templated carbon, and/or an activated carbon.

19. A lithium battery comprising the battery electrode of claim 1 .