Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Elemental-sensitive Detection of the Chemistry in Batteries through Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering
Published on: April 17, 2018
Electrostatic Polysulfides Confinement to Inhibit Redox Shuttle Process in the Lithium Sulfur Batteries
Min Ling1, Wenjun Yan2, Ayako Kawase1
1Applied Energy Materials Group, Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
Abstract:
Cationic polymer can capture polysulfide ions and inhibit polysulfide shuttle effect in lithium sulfur (Li-S) rechargeable batteries, enhancing the Li-S battery cycling performance. The cationic poly[bis(2-chloroethyl) ether-alt-1,3-bis[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]urea] quaternized (PQ) with a high density quaternary ammonium cations can trap the lithium polysulfide through the electrostatic attraction between positively charged quaternary ammonium (R4N+) and negatively charged polysulfide (Sx2-). PQ binder based sulfur electrodes deliver much higher capacity and provide better stability than traditional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder based electrodes in Li-S cells. A high sulfur loading of 7.5 mg/cm2 is achieved, which delivers a high initial areal capacity of 9.0 mAh/cm2 and stable cycling capacity at around 7.0 mAh/cm2 in the following cycles.
Related Concept Videos
Formation of Complex Ions
Batteries and Fuel Cells
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
Electrodeposition
Electrodeposition can...

