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Magnesium Anode Protection by an Organic Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Magnesium-Sulfur Batteries
Joachim Häcker1, Tobias Rommel1, Pia Lange1,2
1Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 30, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a novel artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) coating for magnesium-sulfur batteries. This coating significantly enhances cycling stability and discharge capacity by protecting the magnesium anode from parasitic reactions, improving battery performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Magnesium-sulfur (Mg-S) batteries offer high energy density and utilize abundant, low-cost materials, making them promising post-lithium battery candidates.
- Current Mg-S batteries suffer from poor cycling stability due to parasitic sulfur reduction on the magnesium anode, leading to material loss and anode passivation.
- Protecting the magnesium anode with an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is a viable strategy to improve stability without hindering cathode kinetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an organic coating approach for magnesium anodes in Mg-S batteries.
- To enhance the cycling stability and electrochemical performance of Mg-S batteries by preventing parasitic reactions at the anode.
- To investigate scalable and ambient condition-compatible coating techniques for practical relevance.
Main Methods:
- An organic coating based on ionomers and polymers (Aquivion/PVDF) was applied to magnesium anodes.
- Electrochemical performance was assessed using Mg-Mg and Mg-S cells, including measurements of overpotentials and Coulombic efficiency.
- Surface characterization was performed using SEM, AFM, IR, and XPS; operando imaging was used to monitor self-discharge.
Main Results:
- The coated magnesium anode significantly increased initial Coulombic efficiency and decreased charge overpotential in Mg-S cells.
- Discharge capacity after 300 cycles was doubled compared to pristine magnesium anodes, demonstrating effective polysulfide repulsion.
- Operando imaging confirmed mitigated self-discharge, indicated by a non-colored separator.
- Coating preparation and anode assembly were achieved under ambient conditions, facilitating scalability.
Conclusions:
- An artificial SEI coating effectively protects the magnesium anode in Mg-S batteries, suppressing parasitic reactions and improving cycling stability.
- The developed coating method is facile, energy-efficient, and compatible with ambient conditions, enhancing the practical feasibility of Mg-S batteries.
- This study underscores the critical role of anode surface engineering in advancing magnesium-sulfur battery technology.
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