Minimizing the Electrolyte Volume in Li–S Batteries: A Step Forward to High Gravimetric Energy Density

• Sulfur electrodes confined in an inert carbon matrix show practical limitations and concerns related to low cathode density. As a result, these electrodes require a large amount of electrolyte, normally three times more than the volume used in commercial Li-ion batteries. Herein, a high-energy and high-performance lithium–sulfur battery concept, designed to achieve high practical capacity with minimum volume of electrolyte is proposed. It is based on deposition of polysulfide species on a self-standing and highly conductive carbon nanofiber network, thus eliminating the need for a binder and current collector, resulting in high active material loading. The fiber network has a functionalized surface with the presence of polar oxygen groups, with the aim to prevent polysulfide migration to the lithium anode during the electrochemical process, by the formation of S–O species. Owing to the high sulfur loading (6 mg cm−2) and a reduced free volume of the sulfide/fiber electrode, the Li–S cell is designed to work with as little as 10 µL cm−2of electrolyte. With this design the cell has a high energy density of 450 Wh kg−1, a lifetime of more than 400 cycles, and the possibility of low cost, by use of abundant and eco-friendly materials.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Oorganisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Inorganic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Annan kemiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Other Chemical Engineering (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

lithium–sulfur battery with reduced electrolyte volume

nanostructured sulfide/fiber electrodes

Li–ion batteries

low cost lithium batteries

practical and high energy storage systems

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)