A lithium-ion sulfur battery using a polymer, polysulfide-added membrane

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium-ion sulfur batteries offer high theoretical energy density but suffer from polysulfide shuttling and capacity degradation.
• Traditional liquid electrolytes pose safety risks and contribute to polysulfide dissolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a safe and stable polymer-based lithium-ion sulfur battery with enhanced electrochemical performance.
• To investigate the role of a polysulfide-added polymer electrolyte in mitigating cathode dissolution.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a lithium-ion sulfur cell utilizing a sulfur-carbon cathode, a Li-Sn-C nanostructured alloy anode, and a PEO-based polymer electrolyte with polysulfide additives.
• Electrochemical characterization including cycling stability and capacity measurements at various rates.

Main Results:

• The polymer-based cell demonstrated excellent electrochemical stability and high delivered capacity.
• A stable capacity ranging from 500 to 1500 mAh gS(-1) was achieved, dependent on the cycling rate.
• The polysulfide-added polymer electrolyte effectively mitigated cathode dissolution, enhancing overall cell performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed polymer lithium-ion sulfur battery exhibits promising performance for advanced energy storage applications.
• The combination of a polymer electrolyte and a nanostructured Li-Sn-C alloy anode contributes to improved safety and electrochemical stability.
• This configuration addresses key challenges in lithium-ion sulfur battery technology, paving the way for safer and more efficient energy storage solutions.