Effect of solvents on the electrochemical properties of binder-free sulfur cathode films in lithium–sulfur batteries

Journal Article · Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2016.03.027· OSTI ID:22581642

Ryu, Ho-Suk ^[1]; Kim, Byeong-Wook ^[2]; Park, Jin-Woo; Nam, Tae-Hyun; Cho, Kwon-Koo; Kim, Ki-Won ^[3]; Ahn, Jou-Hyeon ^[4]; Ahn, Hyo-Jun ^[3]

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1. Department of Material and Energy Engineering, Gyeongwoon University, 730, Gangdong-ro, Sandong-myeon, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 730-739 (Korea, Republic of)
2. Development, R&D Division, Kokam Co. Ltd., 19 Gayagongdangil, Gayagok-myeon, Nonsan, Chungnam 320-844 (Korea, Republic of)
3. Department of Materials Engineering and Convergence Technology, RIGET, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828 (Korea, Republic of)
4. Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 660-701 (Korea, Republic of)

Highlights: • The binder-free sulfur electrode with high sulfur contents of 75 wt.% was fabricated. • The binder-free sulfur electrode using NMP solvents showed 784 mAh g{sup −1} after 40 cycles. • The solvent affect the electrochemical properties of binder-free sulfur electrode films. - Abstract: The effects of solvents on the preparation of sulfur cathodes were investigated by fabricating binder-free sulfur electrode films using three different solvents: 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), acetonitrile, and deionized water. These solvents are commonly employed to dissolve binders used to prepare sulfur cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries. The sulfur electrode fabricated with NMP had a higher discharge capacity and longer cycle life than the ones fabricated with acetonitrile and deionized water. Better adhesion between the current collector and the sulfur electrode accounted for the improved capacity and cycle life of the battery. In addition, the stability of the electrode in the electrolyte was a result of the solubility of sulfur in the solvent. We thus concluded that the solvents used in the fabrication of sulfur electrodes had a positive influence on the electrochemical properties of Li–S batteries.

• OSTI ID: 22581642
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 82; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ACETONITRILE
BINDERS
CATHODES
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTROLYTES
FABRICATION
FILMS
LITHIUM
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PHASE STABILITY
PYRROLIDONES
SOLUBILITY
SOLVENTS
SULFUR
SULFUR CONTENT
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACES