Breakthrough in Cathode Chemistry Clears Path for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries' Commercial Viability Breakthrough in Cathode Chemistry
The challenge of introducing sulfur into a lithium battery with commercially friendly carbonate electrolyte has been an irreversible chemical reaction between intermediate sulfur products, called polysulfides and the carbonate electrolyte. Because of this adverse reaction, previous attempts to use a sulfur cathode in a battery with a carbonate electrolyte solution resulted in nearly immediate shut down and a complete failure of the battery after just one cycle.
The researchers reported on a way to stabilize a rare form of sulfur in a cathode, which would allow it to function in the carbonate electrolyte used in commercial Li-ion batteries. Until now, sulfur has encountered a performance-sapping reaction with the electrolyte which has curtailed its commercial viability. Including sulfur in batteries could expand their capacity, extend lifespan and provide a sustainable alternative to current cathode materials like cobalt, nickel and manganese.
“As we began the test, it started running beautifully — something we did not expect. In fact, we tested it over and over again — more than 100 times — to ensure we were really seeing what we thought we were seeing,” Kalra said. “The sulfur cathode, which we suspected would cause the reaction to grind to a halt, actually performed amazingly well and it did so again and again without causing shuttling.
After more than a year of testing, the sulfur cathode remains stable and, as the team reported, its performance has not degraded in 4,000 charge-discharge cycles, which is equivalent to 10 years of regular use. And, as predicted, the battery’s capacity is more than three-fold that of a Li-ion battery.
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