Minimizing the Electrolyte Volume in Li–S Batteries: A Step Forward to High Gravimetric Energy Density
Journal article, 2018

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.

lithium–sulfur battery with reduced electrolyte volume

nanostructured sulfide/fiber electrodes

Li–ion batteries

low cost lithium batteries

practical and high energy storage systems

Author

Marco Agostini

Chalmers, Physics, Condensed Matter Physics

Jang Yeon Hwang

Hanyang University

Hee Min Kim

Hanyang University

Pantaleone Bruni

G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara

Sergio Brutti

Istituto Dei Sistemi Complessi, Rome

F. Croce

G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara

Aleksandar Matic

Chalmers, Physics, Condensed Matter Physics

Yang Kook Sun

Hanyang University

Advanced Energy Materials

1614-6832 (ISSN) 1614-6840 (eISSN)

Vol. 8 26 1801560

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

Other Chemical Engineering

Other Physics Topics

DOI

10.1002/aenm.201801560

More information

Latest update

4/6/2022 1