Tuning the solubility of polysulfides for constructing practical lithium-sulfur battery

Li-S batteries are regarded as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation battery systems with high energy density and low cost.However,the dissolution-precipitation reaction mechanism of the sulfur(S)cathode enhances the kinetics of the redox processes of the insulating sulfu r,which also arouses the notorious shuttle effect,leading to serious loss of S species and corrosion of Li anode.To get a balance between the shuttle restraining and the kinetic property,a combined strategy of electrolyte regulation and cathode modification is proposed via introducing 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoroprpyl ether(HFE)instead of 1,2-dimethoxyethane(DME),and SeS_(7)instead of S_8.The introduction of HFE tunes the solvation structure of the LiTFSI and the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides with Se doping(LiPSSes),and optimize the interface stability of the Li anode simultaneously.The minor Se substitution compensates the decrease in kinetic due to the decreased solubility of LiPSs.In this way,the Li-SeS_(7)batteries deliver a reversible capacity of 1062 and 1037 mAh g^(-1)with 2.0 and 5.5 mg SeS_(7)cm^(-2)loading condition,respectively.Besides,an electrolyte-electrode loading model is established to explain the relationship between the optimal electrolyte and cathode loading.It makes more sense to guide the electrolyte design for practical Li-S batteries.

Liquid metal in prohibiting polysulfides shuttling in metal sulfides anode for sodium-ion batteries

Metal sulfides are a class of promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)owing to their high theoretical specific capacity.Nevertheless,the reactant products(polysulfides)could dissolve into electrolyte,shuttle across separator,and react with sodium anode,leading to severe capacity loss and safety concerns.Herein,for the first time,gallium(Ga)-based liquid metal(LM)alloy is incorporated with MoS_(2)nanosheets to work as an anode in SIBs.The electron-rich,ultrahigh electrical conductivity,and self-healing properties of LM endow the heterostructured MoS_(2)-LM with highly improved conductivity and electrode integrity.Moreover,LM is demonstrated to have excellent capability for the adsorption of polysulfides(e.g.,Na_(2)S,Na_(2)S_(6),and S_(8))and subsequent catalytic conversion of Na_(2)S.Consequently,the MoS_(2)-LM electrode exhibits superior ion diffusion kinetics and long cycling performance in SIBs and even in lithium/potassium-ion battery(LIB/PIB)systems,far better than those electrodes with conventional binders(polyvinylidene difluoride(PVDF)and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC)).This work provides a unique material design concept based on Ga-based liquid metal alloy for metal sulfide anodes in rechargeable battery systems and beyond.

Accelerating lithium-sulfur battery reaction kinetics and inducing 3D deposition of Li_(2)S using interactions between Fe_(3)Se_(4)and lithium polysulfides

Although lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)exhibit high theoretical energy density,their practical application is hindered by poor conductivity of the sulfur cathode,the shuttle effect,and the irreversible deposition of Li_(2)S.To address these issues,a novel composite,using electrospinning technology,consisting of Fe_(3)Se_(4)and porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers was designed for the interlayer of LSBs.The porous carbon nanofiber structure facilitates the transport of ions and electrons,while the Fe_(3)Se_(4)material adsorbs lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)and accelerates its catalytic conversion process.Furthermore,the Fe_(3)Se_(4)material interacts with soluble LiPSs to generate a new polysulfide intermediate,Li_(x)FeS_(y)complex,which changes the electrochemical reaction pathway and facilitates the three-dimensional deposition of Li_(2)S,enhancing the reversibility of LSBs.The designed LSB demonstrates a high specific capacity of1529.6 mA h g^(-1)in the first cycle at 0.2 C.The rate performance is also excellent,maintaining an ultra-high specific capacity of 779.7 mA h g^(-1)at a high rate of 8 C.This investigation explores the mechanism of the interaction between the interlayer and LiPSs,and provides a new strategy to regulate the reaction kinetics and Li_(2)S deposition in LSBs.

Sulfhydryl-functionalized COF-based electrolyte strengthens chemical affinity toward polysulfides in quasi-solid-state Li-S batteries

For lithium-sulfur batteries(Li-S batteries),a high-content electrolyte typically can exacerbate the shuttle effect,while a lean electrolyte may lead to decreased Li-ion conductivity and reduced catalytic conversion efficiency,so achieving an appropriate electrolyte-to-sulfur ratio(E/S ratio)is essential for improving the battery cycling efficiency.A quasi-solid electrolyte(COF-SH@PVDF-HFP)with strong adsorption and high catalytic conversion was constructed for in situ covalent organic framework(COF)growth on highly polarized polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene(PVDF-HFP)fibers.COF-SH@PVDF-HFP enables efficient Li-ion conductivity with low-content liquid electrolyte and effectively suppresses the shuttle effect.The results based on in situ Fourier-transform infrared,in situ Raman,UV–Vis,X-ray photoelectron,and density functional theory calculations confirmed the high catalytic conversion of COF-SH layer containing sulfhydryl and imine groups for the lithium polysulfides.Lithium plating/stripping tests based on Li/COF-SH@PVDF-HFP/Li show excellent lithium compatibility(5 mAh cm^(-2) for 1400 h).The assembled Li-S battery exhibits excellent rate(2 C 688.7 mAh g^(-1))and cycle performance(at 2 C of 568.8 mAh g^(-1) with a capacity retention of 77.3%after 800 cycles).This is the first report to improve the cycling stability of quasi-solid-state Li-S batteries by reducing both the E/S ratio and the designing strategy of sulfhydryl-functionalized COF for quasi-solid electro-lytes.This process opens up the possibility of the high performance of solid-state Li-S batteries.

Microporous Cyclodextrin Film with Funnel-type Channel Polymerized on Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Membrane as Separators for Strong Trapping Polysulfides and Boosting Charging in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The“shuttle effect”of polysulfides hampers the commercialization of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.Here,a thin molecular sieve film was decorated on the surface of an electrospun cellulose acetate(CA)membrane derived from recycled cigarette filters,where the truncated cone structureβ-cyclodextrin(β-CD)was selected as the building block to physically block and chemically trap polysulfides while simultaneously dramatically speeding up ion transport.Furthermore,on theβ-CD free side of the separator facing the cathode,graphite carbon(C)was sputtered as an upper current collector,which barely increases the thickness.These benefits result in an initial discharge performance of 1378.24 mAh g^(−1) and long-term cycling stability of 863.78 mAh g^(−1) after 1000 cycles at 0.2 C for the battery with theβ-CD/CA/C separator,which is more than three times that of the PP separator after 500 cycles.Surprisingly,the funnel-type channel ofβ-CD generates a differential ionic fluid pressure on both sides,speeding up ion transport by up to 69%,and a 65.3%faster charging rate of 9484 mA g^(−1) was achieved.The“funnel effect”of a separator is regarded as a novel and high-efficiency solution for fast charging of Li-S and other lithium secondary batteries.

Bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework with High-Adsorption Capacity toward Lithium Polysulfides for Lithium–sulfur Batteries

The practical application of Li-S batteries is largely impeded by the“shuttle effect”generated at the cathode which results in a short life cycle of the battery.To address this issue,this work discloses a bimetallic metal-organic framework(MOF)as a sulfur host material based on Al-MOF,commonly called(Al)MIL-53.To obtain a high-adsorption capacity to lithium polysulfides(Li_(2)S_(x),4≤x≤8),we present an effective strategy to incorporate sulfiphilic metal ion(Cu^(2+))with high-binding energy to Li_(2)S_(x) into the framework.Through a one-step hydrothermal method,Cu^(2+) is homogeneously dispersed in Al-MOF,producing a bimetallic Al/Cu-MOF as advanced cathode material.The macroscopic Li2S4 solution permeation test indicates that the Al/Cu-MOF has better adsorption capacity to lithium polysulfides than monometallic Al-MOF.The sulfur-transfusing process is executed via a melt-diffusion method to obtain the sulfur-containing Al/CuMOF(Al/Cu-MOF-S).The assembled Li-S batteries with Al/Cu-MOF-S yield improved cyclic performance,much better than that of monometallic AlMOF as sulfur host.It is shown that chemical immobilization is an effective method for polysulfide adsorption than physical confinement and the bimetallic Al/Cu-MOF,formed by incorporation of sulfiphilic Cu^(2+) into porous MOF,will provide a novel and powerful approach for efficient sulfur host materials.

Construction of polysulfides defense system for greatly improving the long cycle life of metal sulfide anodes for sodium-ion batteries

Metal sulfides are promising anode materials for sodium ion batteries(SIBs)due to their high theoretical specific capacity and abundant source.Nevertheless,significant challenges,including large volume change,sluggish Na^(+)transport kinetics and polysulfides intermediates,have greatly affect their long cycle stability.Unfortunately,the majority of current studies only focus on the first two aspects,but lack of sufficient attention and insights into the effect of polysulfides intermediates.Here,a porous of CoS_(x)(P-CoS_(x))electrode material is fabricated as an example to investigate the influence of polysulfides on its cycling performance.The results show that polysulfides cause a slight loss of reversible capacity during the battery cycling,while the failure of the battery is due to its significant fluctuations in reversible capacity after extensive cycles.Detailed analyses demonstrate that the intense fluctuation in capacity originates from the faster growth of dendrites caused by the reaction of sodium polysulfides with sodium foil and/or the reaction of elemental sulfur with sodium foil to penetrate the separator,resulting in a local short circuit.To suppress these undesirable side reaction,N,S co-doped porous carbon tubes(N,S-PC)rich in C–S and C–N bonds have been added to adsorb polysulfides and alleviate their reaction with sodium foil.As a result,the capacity of the P-CoS_(x) electrode with N,S-PC(P-CoS_(x)/N,S-PC)remains stable without significant fluctuations for 1000 cycles,which is much better than that of the pure P-CoS_(x) electrode(intense fluctuation in capacity after 320 cycles).Our work offers insights into the crucial influence of polysulfides on the cycle performance of the P-CoS_(x) anode and provides a feasible strategy to prolong the cycle life of metal sulfide anode for SIBs.

Enhanced chemical trapping and catalytic conversion of polysulfides by diatomite/MXene hybrid interlayer for stable Li-S batteries

Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high theoretical energy density are promising energy storage systems in the next decades, while the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttling caused by the sluggish sulfur redox reaction severely lowers the practical performance. The use of interlayer between the cathode and separator has been widely investigated to physically or chemically block the LiPSs, while the introduction of catalytic materials is a more effective strategy to accelerate the conversion of LiPSs. MXene with rich surface chemistry has shown its potential for facilitating the catalytic conversion, however, the aggregation of MXene sheets usually leads to the loss of the catalytic active sites. Herein, we report a diatomite/MXene (DE/MX) hybrid material as the bifunctional interlayer for improving the adsorption/conversion of LiPSs in Li-S batteries. The diatomite with porous structure and rich silica-hydroxyl functional groups could trap LiPSs effectively, while prevent the aggregation of MXene. The DE/MX based interlayer showed bifunctions of enhancing the chemical adsorption and promoting the conversion of LiPSs. The Li-S batteries with the DE/MX interlayer delivered an improved cycling stability with a low capacity decay of 0.059% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1.0 C. Moreover, stable 200 cycles can be realized with a high sulfur loading electrode up to 6.0 mg cm^(−2). This work provides an effective strategy to construct bifunctional interlayers for hindering the shuttling of LiPSs and boosting the practical application of Li-S batteries.

Effect of specifically-adsorbed polysulfides on the electron transfer kinetics of sodium metal anodes

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur(RT Na-S)batteries hold great promise for large-scale energy storage applications owing to the high energy density and earth-abundance of Na and S.However,the dissolution and migration of sodium polysulfides,uncontrollable Na dendrite growth,and the lack of studies on Na electrodeposition kinetics have hindered the development of these batteries.Herein,we reveal the mechanism of sodium polysulfides on the Na plating/stripping kinetics using a three-electrode system.First,the kinetic behavior deviates from the commonly supposed Butler-Volmer model,which is well described by the Marcus model.In addition,the specific adsorption of polysulfides on the sodium electrode surface is a key factor influencing the kinetics.Higher-order polysulfides(S_(8)^(2-)and S_(6)^(2-))exhibit distinct specific adsorption behaviors because of their high adsorption energies compared to lower-order polysulfides(S_(4)^(2-)and S_(2)^(2-)).The electrostatic effect caused by specific adsorption can accelerate the kinetics,whereas the blocking effect can slow the kinetics.Thus,this competitive relationship enables low concentrations of high-order polysulfides to stimulate kinetics.This implies that a weak shuttle effect is beneficial for obtaining a stable Na deposition in RT Na-S batteries.An in-depth understanding of the Na electrodeposition kinetics provides beneficial clues for future metal sodium/electrolyte interface designs.

Enhanced catalytic conversion of polysulfides using high-percentage 1T-phase metallic WS_(2) nanosheets for Li–S batteries

High-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries has attracted substantial attention as competitive candidates for large-scale energy storage technologies.Still,the adverse“shuttle effect”and sluggish sulfur conversion reaction kinetics immensely obstruct their commercial viability.Herein,a two-dimensional metallic 1T phase WS_(2)(1T-WS_(2))nanosheets modified functional separator is developed to improve the electrochemical performance.Meanwhile,the semiconducting bulk-WS_(2) crystals,and 2H phase WS_(2)(2H-WS_(2))nanosheets with more basal-plane Svacancy defects are also prepared to probe the contributions of the crystal structure(phase),S-vacancy defects,and edges to the Li–S batteries performance experimentally and theoretically.In merits of the synergistic effect of high ion and electron conductivity,enhanced binding ability to lithium polysulfides(LiPSs),and sufficient electrocatalytic active sites,the 1T-WS_(2) shows highly efficient electrocatalysis of LiPSs conversion and further improves Li–S battery performance.As expected,thus-fabricated cells with 1T-WS_(2) nanosheets present superior cycle stability that maintain capacity decline of 0.039%per cycle after 1000 cycles at 1.0 C.The strategy presented here offers a viable approach to reveal the critical factors for LiPSs catalytic conversion,which is beneficial to developing advanced Li–S batteries with enhanced properties.

Multifunctional interlayer with simultaneously capturing and catalytically converting polysulfides for boosting safety and performance of lithium-sulfur batteries at high-low temperatures

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries as extremely promising high-density energy storage devices have attracted extensive concern. However, practical applications of Li-S batteries are severely restricted by not only intrinsic polysulfides shuttle resulting from their concentration gradient diffusion and sluggish conversion kinetics but also serious safety issue caused by thermolabile and combustible polymer separators.Herein, it is presented for the first time that a robust and multifunctional separator with urchin-like Co-doped Fe OOH microspheres and multiwalled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) as an interlayer simultaneously achieves to suppress polysulfides shuttle as well as improves thermotolerance and nonflammability of commercial PP separator. Accordingly, Li-S batteries with modified separator exhibit remarkable performance in a wide range temperatures of-25–100 ℃. Typically, under 25 ℃, ultrahigh initial capacities of 1441 and 827.29 m A h g-1 at 1 C and 2 C are delivered, and remained capacities of 936 and 663.18 mA h g-1 can be obtained after 500 cycles, respectively. At 0.1 C, the S utilization can reach up to 97%. Significantly, at 1 C, the batteries also deliver an excellent performance with remained capacities of high to862.3, 608.4 and 420.6 m A h g-1 after 100, 300 and 450 cycles under 75, 0 and-25 ℃, respectively. This work provides a new insight for developing stable and safe high-performance Li-S batteries.

Metallic phase W_(0.9)Mo_(0.1)S_(2)for high-performance anode of sodium ion batteries through suppressing the dissolution of polysulfides

WS_(2)with layered graphite-like structure as anode for sodium ion batteries has high specific capacity.However,the poor cycling performance and rate capability of WS_(2)caused by the low electronic conductivity and structure changes during cycles inhibit its practical application.Herein,metallic phase(1T)W_(x)Mo_(1−x)S2(x=1,0.9,0.8 and 0.6)with high electronic conductivity and expanded interlayer spacing of 0.95 nm was directly prepared via a simple hydrothermal method.Specially,1T W_(0.9)Mo_(0.1)S_(2)as anode for sodium ion batteries displays high capacities of 411 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1)after 180 cycles and 262 mAh g^(-1)at 1 A g^(-1)after 280 cycles and excellent rate capability(245 mAh g^(-1)at 5 A g^(-1)).The full cell based on Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)O_(2)F/C cathode and 1T W_(0.9)Mo_(0.1)S_(2)anode also exhibits high capacity and good cycling performance.The irreversible electrochemical reaction of 1T W_(0.9)Mo_(0.1)S_(2)with Na ions during first few cycles results in the main products of W-Mo alloy and S.The strong adsorption of W-Mo alloy with polysulfides can effectively suppress the dissolution and shuttle effect of polysulfides,which ensures the excellent cycling performance of 1T W_(0.9)Mo_(0.1)S_(2).

The electrocatalytic activity of BaTiO3 nanoparticles towards polysulfides enables high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

The slow redox dynamics and dissolution of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries result in poor rate performance and rapid decay of battery capacity,thus limiting their practical application.Ferroelectric barium titanate(BT)nanoparticles have been reported to effectively improve the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries due to the inherent self-polarization and high adsorption capacity of the BT nanoparticles towards polysulfides.Here in this paper,BT nanoparticles,behave as highly efficient electrocatalyst and demonstrate much higher redox dynamics towards the conversion reaction of polysulfides and Li2S than TiO2,as shown by both electrochemical measurements and density functional theory calculation.The coupling of the sulfur host of the hollow and graphitic carbon flakes(HGCF)and the BT nanoparticles(HGCF/S-BT)enable excellent electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries,delivering a0.047%capacity decay per cycle in 1000 cycles at 1 C,788 mAh g^-1 at 2 C and a reversible capacity of613 mAh g^-1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 0.5 C at a S loading of 3.4 mg cm^-2.HGCF/S-BT also shows great promise for practical application in flexible devices as demonstrated on the soft-packaged Li-S batteries.

Regulating adsorption ability toward polysulfides in a porous carbon/Cu_(3)P hybrid for an ultrastable high-temperature lithium-sulfur battery

Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)can work at high temperatures,but they suffer from poor cycle life stability due to the“shuttle effect”of polysulfides.In this study,pollen-derived porous carbon/cuprous phosphide(PC/Cu_(3)P)hybrids were rationally synthesized using a one-step carbonization method using pollen as the source material,acting as the sulfur host for LSBs.In the hybrid,polar Cu_(3)P can markedly inhibit the“shuttle effect”by regulating the adsorption ability toward polysulfides,as confirmed by theoretical calculations and experimental tests.As an example,the camellia pollen porous carbon(CPC)/Cu_(3)P/S electrode shows a high capacity of 1205.6 mAh g^(−1) at 0.1 C,an ultralow capacity decay rate of 0.038%per cycle after 1000 cycles at 1 C,and a rather high initial Coulombic efficiency of 98.5%.The CPC/Cu_(3)P LSBs can work well at high temperatures,having a high capacity of 545.9 mAh g^(−1) at 1 C even at 150℃.The strategy of the PC/Cu_(3)P hybrid proposed in this study is expected to be an ideal cathode for ultrastable high-temperature LSBs.We believe that this strategy is universal and worthy of in-depth development for the next generation energy storage devices.

Recent progress and strategies of cathodes toward polysulfides shuttle restriction for lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)have already developed into one of the most promising new-generation high-energy density electrochemical energy storage systems with outstanding features including high-energy density,low cost,and environmental friendliness.However,the development and commercialization path of LSBs still presents significant limitations and challenges,particularly the notorious shuttle effect triggered by soluble longchain lithium polysulfides(LiPSs),which inevitably leads to low utilization of cathode active sulfur and high battery capacity degradation,short cycle life,etc.Substantial research efforts have been conducted to develop various sulfur host materials capable of effectively restricting the shuttle effect.This review firstly introduces the fundamental electrochemical aspects of LSBs,followed by a comprehensive analysis of the mechanism underlying the shuttle effect in Li–S batteries and its profound influence on various battery components as well as the overall battery performance.Subsequently,recent advances and strategies are systematically reviewed,including physical confinement,chemisorption,and catalytic conversion of sulfur hosts for restricting LiPSs shuttle effects.The interplay mechanisms of sulfur hosts and LiPSs are discussed in detail and the structural advantages of different host materials are highlighted.Furthermore,key insights for the rational design of advanced host materials for LSBs are provided,and the upcoming challenges and the prospects for sulfur host materials in lithium-sulfur batteries are also explored.

Inhibiting shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides by double metal selenides for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)have attracted the attention of more and more researchers due to the advantages of high energy density,environmental friendliness,and low production cost.However,the low electronic conductivity of active material and shuttling effect of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)limit the commercial development of LSBs.To solve these problems,we design a core-shell composite with nitrogen-doped carbon(NC)and two types of selenides(FeSe_(2)-NC@ZnSe-NC).The FeSe_(2)-NC@ZnSe-NC has a strong adsorption capacity,and can effectively adsorb LiPSs.At the same time,it also effectively alleviates the shuttling effect of LiPSs,and improves the utilization of the active substance during the charge/discharge reaction processes.The mechanism involved in FeSe_(2)-NC@ZnSe-NC is demonstrated by both experiments and density-functional theory(DFT)calculations.The electrochemical test results indicate that LSB with S/FeSe_(2)-NC@ZnSe-NC delivers an initial discharge capacity of 1260 mAh·g^(-1)at 0.2C.And after 500 cycles at 1C,the capacity decay rate per cycle is 0.031%,and the capacity retention rate is 85%.The FeSe_(2)-NC@ZnSe-NC core-shell structure verifies a rational strategy to construct an electrode material for high-performance LSBs.

Interface-induced polymerization strategy for constructing titanium dioxide embedded carbon porous framework with enhanced chemical immobilization towards lithium polysulfides

The shuttle effect induced by soluble lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)is known as one of the crucial issues that limit the practical applications of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.Herein,a titanium dioxide nanoparticle embedded in nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofiber(TiO_(2)@NCNF)composite is constructed via an interface-induced polymerization strategy to serve as an ideal sulfur host.Under the protection of the nanofiber walls,the uniformly dispersed TiO_(2) nanocrystalline can act as capturing centers to constantly immobilize LiPSs towards durable sulfur chemistry.Besides,the mesoporous microstructure in the fibrous framework endows the TiO_(2)@NCNF host with strong physical reservation for sulfur and LiPSs,sufficient pathways for electron/ion transfer,and excellent endurance for volume change.As expected,the sulfur-loaded TiO_(2)@NCNF composite electrode presents a fabulous rate performance and long cycle lifespan(capacity fading rate of 0.062%per cycle over 500 cycles)at 2.0 C.Furthermore,the assembled Li-S batteries harvest superb areal capacity and cycling stability even under high sulfur loading and lean electrolyte conditions.

Synergistic adsorption and catalytic effects of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)/CoO/MoO_(3) composite on lithium polysulfides for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries

The shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)and their sluggish kinetic processes lead to rapid capacity fading and poor cycling stability in lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries,limiting their commercial viability.This study proposes a functionalized separator with adsorption and synergistic catalysis ability for Li-S batteries.The modified separator comprises Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) sheets,CoO,and MoO_(3).Experimental and theoretical calculations demonstrate that Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)/CoO/MoO_(3) composite not only effectively inhibits the shuttle effect of LiPSs,ensuring efficient utilization of active materials,but also enhances reversibility and reaction kinetics among LiPSs.The full exposure of active sites in the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)/CoO/MoO_(3) composite and the synergistic action of different catalysts enable efficient capture and conversion of LiPSs molecules at the material surface.Besides,the lithium-sulfur batteries with Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)/CoO/MoO_(3)@PP separator exhibited only a 0.042%capacity decay per cycle at 0.5 C(800 cycles).Moreover,a high areal capacity of 6.85 mAh cm-2 was achieved at high sulfur loading(7.9 mg cm-2)and low electrolyte-to-sulfur ratio(10μL mg-1).

Higher-order polysulfides induced thermal runaway for 1.0 Ah lithium sulfur pouch cells

Comprehensive analyses on thermal runaway mechanisms are critically vital to achieve the safe lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.The reactions between dissolved higher-order polysulfides and Li metal were found to be the origins for the thermal runaway of 1.0 Ah cycled Li-S pouch cells.16-cycle pouch cell indicates high safety,heating from 30 to 300 ℃ without thermal runaway,while 16-cycle pouch cell with additional electrolyte undergoes severe thermal runaway at 147.9 ℃,demonstrating the key roles of the electrolyte on the thermal safety of batteries.On the contrary,thermal runaway does not occur for 45-cycle pouch cell despite the addition of the electrolyte.It is found that the higher-order polysulfides(Li_(2)S_(x) ≥ 6)are discovered in 16-cycle electrolyte while the sulfur species in 45-cycle electrolyte are Li_(2)S_(x) ≤ 4.In addition,strong exothermic reactions are discovered between cycled Li and dissolved higher-order polysulfide(Li_(2)S_(6) and Li_(2)S_(8))at 153.0 ℃,driving the thermal runaway of cycled Li-S pouch cells.This work uncovers the potential safety risks of Li-S batteries and negative roles of the polysulfide shuttle for Li-S batteries from the safety view.

Emerging multifunctional iron-based nanomaterials as polysulfides adsorbent and sulfur species catalyst for lithium-sulfur batteries——A mini-review

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)battery has been considered as one of the most promising next generation energy storage technologies for its overwhelming merits of high theoretical specific capacity(1673 m Ah/g),high energy density(2500 Wh/kg),low cost,and environmentally friendliness of sulfur.However,critical drawbacks,including inherent low conductivity of sulfur and Li2S,large volume changes of sulfur cathodes,undesirable shuttling and sluggish redox kinetics of polysulfides,seriously deteriorate the energy density,cycle life and rate capability of Li-S battery,and thus limit its practical applications.Herein,we reviewed the recent developments addressing these problems through iron-based nanomaterials for effective synergistic immobilization as well as conversion reaction kinetics acceleration for polysulfides.The mechanist configurations between different iron-based nanomaterials and polysulfides for entrapment and conversion acceleration were summarized at first.Then we concluded the recent progresses on utilizing various iron-based nanomaterials in Li-S battery as sulfur hosts,separators and cathode interlayers.Finally,we discussed the challenges and perspectives for designing high sulfur loading cathode architectures along with outstanding chemisorption capability and catalytic activity.