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Title: Anode–Free Lithium–Sulfur Cells Enabled by Rationally Tuning Lithium Polysulfide Molecules

Journal Article · · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)

The two major barriers of practical lithium–sulfur batteries are the poor reversibility of lithium-metal anode and sluggish kinetics of sulfur cathode. Here, we report a simple yet cogent, molecular tailoring approach for lithium polysulfides, enabling a synergistic enhancement of anode reversibility and cathode kinetics. In this study, we show that SnI4 coordinates with lithium polysulfides to form soluble complexes, resulting in a Li2SnS3-rich anode interphase layer. As Li2SnS3 is stable against parasitic reactions and has a lower ionic resistance over cycling, the Li plating/stripping efficiency is greatly improved. In addition, the formation of soluble complexes between SnI4 and lithium polysulfides play a non-negligible role in suppressing the clustering behavior of lithium polysulfide molecules, resulting in a significant enhancement in sulfur conversion kinetics under lean electrolyte conditions. The synergistic improvement is validated in anode-free, lean-electrolyte pouch cells with a Li2S cathode that displays capacity retention of 78 % after 100 cycles.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0007762
OSTI ID:
2217438
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1882752; OSTI ID: 1976284
Journal Information:
Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), Vol. 61, Issue 35; ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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