Prof. Yongyao Xia’s group published a paper on Energy & Environmental Science
Recently, iChEM & FDU professor Yongyao Xia’s group made a progress in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. The related results published on Energy & Environmental Science, entitled with “A high performance lithium-ion sulfur battery based on a Li2S cathode using a dual-phase electrolyte” on Mar 11th, 2015.
Among the best candidates for the next generation of high-energy-storage systems, a rechargeable lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery with a high theoretical energy density of 2600 W h kg-1 is especially attractive. The application of the Li–S battery suffers from two major issues. One issue lies in the sulfur cathode. A series of sulfur reduction intermediates consisting of highly soluble lithium polysulfides (Li2Sx, 4 ≤ x ≤8) can diffuse between the cathode and the anode, resulting in parasitic reactions with the lithium anode. As a result, the Li–S battery generally displays fast self-discharge, low energy efficiency and poor cyclic stability. The other issue of the Li–S battery involves the use of a lithium metal anode, which may raise safety concerns for practical applications due to the growth of lithium dendrite.
Based on the above problem, Prof. Yongyao Xia’s group report the feasibility of utilizing Li2S with a dual-phase electrolyte separated by a lithium super ionic conductor (LISICON). With this cell architecture that enables an efficient utilization of micro-sized Li2S, a series of problem have been solved. Firstly, the LATP is permeable to Li-ions while impermeable to polysulfide-anions. As a result, parasitic reactions associated with the polysulfide shuttle process are totally eliminated. As Li2S can provide Li source, a Li-ion sulfur battery is achieved by successfully replacing the Li anode with aluminium or graphite. The research provide theoretical basis on efficiently using commercially available micro-sized Li2S.
Lina Wang, Yonggang Wang and Yongyao Xia. A high performance lithium-ion sulfur battery based on a Li2S cathode using a dual-phase electrolyte. Energy Environ. Sci., 2015, 8, 1551‒1558. DOI: 10.1039/C5EE00058K.
