Revealing the working mechanism of a multi-functional block copolymer binder for lithium-sulfur batteries

He, Xin; Liu, Zhimeng; Gao, Guoping; Liu, Xiaotao; Swietoslawski, Michal; Feng, Jun; Liu, Gao; Wang, Lin-Wang; Kostecki, Robert

doi:10.1016/j.jechem.2020.10.002

Title: Revealing the working mechanism of a multi-functional block copolymer binder for lithium-sulfur batteries

Journal Article · Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Journal of Energy Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jechem.2020.10.002· OSTI ID:1827930

^[1]; Liu, Zhimeng ^[1]; Gao, Guoping ^[1]; Liu, Xiaotao ^[1];

^[1]; Feng, Jun ^[2]; Liu, Gao ^[1]; Wang, Lin-Wang ^[1];

^[1]

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Southern Univ. of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Guangdong (China)

The lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is one of the most promising substitutes for current energy storage systems because of its low cost, high theoretical capacity, and high energy density. However, the high solubility of intermediate products (i.e., lithium polysulfides) and the resultant shuttle effect lead to rapidly fading capacity and a low coulombic efficiency, which hinder the practical application of Li-S batteries. In this study, block copolymers are constructed with both an ethylene oxide unit and a styrene unit and then used as binders for Li-S batteries. Electrochemical performance improvements are attributed to the synergistic effects contributed by the different units of the block copolymer. Here, the ethylene oxide unit traps polysulfide, which bonds strongly with the intermediate lithium polysulfide, and enhances the transport of lithium ions to reach high capacity. Meanwhile, the styrene unit maintains cathode integrity by improving the mechanical properties and elasticity of the constructed block copolymer to accommodate the large volume changes. By enabling multiple functions via different units in the polymer chain, high sulfur utilization is achieved, polysulfide diffusion is confined, and the shuttle effect is suppressed during the cycle life of Li-S batteries, as revealed by operando ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1827930

Journal Information:: Journal of Energy Chemistry, Vol. 59; ISSN 2095-4956

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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25 ENERGY STORAGE
Lithium sulfur batteries
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Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy
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Title: Revealing the working mechanism of a multi-functional block copolymer binder for lithium-sulfur batteries

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