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Single-Crystal NCM-Enabled Multifunctional Separator Design for High-Performance Lithium-SPAN Batteries
Ammaiyappan Anbunathan1, Yi-Shiuan Wu1, Jeng-Kuei Chang2
1Battery Research Center of Green Energy, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|March 2, 2026
Summary
A novel trilayer separator enhances lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery performance by improving ionic conductivity and stabilizing redox reactions. This breakthrough offers a sustainable path to high-energy, long-lasting Li-S batteries for a low-carbon future.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries offer high energy density but face challenges with sluggish redox kinetics and polysulfide shuttling in organo-polymer cathodes like sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN).
- Limited active material utilization and poor cycle stability hinder the practical application of SPAN cathodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multifunctional trilayer mixed-conduction separator for enhancing the performance of Li-S batteries with SPAN cathodes.
- To improve ionic selectivity, kinetic facilitation, and interfacial stabilization within the Li-S battery system.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a trilayer separator comprising single-crystal NCM811 (SC-NCM), BP2000 carbon, and Li-Nafion binder, sandwiched between polypropylene (PP) layers (PP|SC-NCM|PP).
- Integration of the separator into Li-S cells utilizing SPAN cathodes.
- Characterization of electrochemical performance, including ionic conductivity, transference number, capacity retention, and rate capability.
Main Results:
- The trilayer separator facilitated Li+-ion transport, enhanced ionic conductivity (1.82 × 10-3 S·cm-1), and improved Li+ transference number (0.60).
- Cells demonstrated high initial discharge capacity (1779 mAh·g-1 at 0.1C), excellent cycle stability (80% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1C), and remarkable high-rate capability (771 mAh·g-1 at 10C).
- The separator suppressed thermal shrinkage and self-discharge, promoting stable solid-state redox reactions.
Conclusions:
- The multifunctional trilayer mixed-conduction separator significantly boosts the performance of Li-S batteries with SPAN cathodes.
- This scalable and recyclable separator design offers a sustainable route to high-performance energy storage.
- The study sets a precedent for designing advanced mixed-conduction membranes for next-generation batteries.
