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Title: A Shell-Shaped Carbon Architecture with High-Loading Capability for Lithium Sulfide Cathodes

Journal Article · · Advanced Energy Materials
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Materials Science and Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute; University of Texas at Austin
  2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Materials Science and Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute

We present that lithium sulfide (Li2S) is considered a highly attractive cathode for establishing high-energy-density rechargeable batteries, especially due to its high charge-storage capacity and compatibility with lithium-metal-free anodes. Although various approaches have recently been pursued with Li2S to obtain high performance, formidable challenges still remain with cell design (e.g., low Li2S loading, insufficient Li2S content, and an excess electrolyte) to realize high areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities. This study demonstrates a shell-shaped carbon architecture for holding pure Li2S, offering innovation in cell-design parameters and gains in electrochemical characteristics. The Li2S core–carbon shell electrode encapsulates the redox products within the conductive shell so as to facilitate facile accessibility to electrons and ions. The fast redox-reaction kinetics enables the cells to attain the highest Li2S loading of 8 mg cm-2 and the lowest electrolyte/Li2S ratio of 9/1, which is the best cell-design specifications ever reported with Li2S cathodes so far. Lastly, benefiting from the excellent cell-design criterion, the core–shell cathodes exhibit stable cyclability from slow to fast cycle rates and, for the first time, simultaneously achieve superior performance metrics with areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V)
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0007218
OSTI ID:
1430177
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1378808; OSTI ID: 1487393
Journal Information:
Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 7; ISSN 1614-6832
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Facile preparation of ultrafine Ti 4 O 7 nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon for high areal capacity lithium–sulfur batteries journal January 2018
A Li 2 S‐TiS 2 ‐Electrolyte Composite for Stable Li 2 S‐Based Lithium–Sulfur Batteries journal June 2019
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Nanostructured Host Materials for Trapping Sulfur in Rechargeable Li-S Batteries: Structure Design and Interfacial Chemistry journal November 2017