A compact inorganic layer for robust anode protection in lithium‐sulfur batteries

By Yu-Xing Yao, Xue‐Qiang Zhang, Bo‐Quan Li, Chong Yan, Peng Chen, Jiaqi Huang, Qiang Zhang. 2020

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Funding information Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program; National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Numbers: U1801257, 21825501, 21676160; National Key Research and Development Program, Grant/Award Numbers: 2015CB932500, 2016YFA0202500 Abstract Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are one of the most promising candidates for high energy density rechargeable batteries beyond current Li-ion batteries. However, severe corrosion of Li metal anode and low Coulombic efficiency (CE) induced by the unremitting shuttle of Li polysulfides immensely hinder the practical applications of Li-S batteries. Herein, a compact inorganic layer (CIL) formed by ex situ reactions between Li anode and ionic liquid emerged as an effective strategy to block Li polysulfides and suppress shuttle effect. A CE of 96.7% was achieved in Li-S batteries with CIL protected Li anode in contrast to 82.4% for bare Li anode while no lithium nitrate was employed. Furthermore, the corrosion of Li during cycling was effectively inhibited. While applied to working batteries, 80.6% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles was retained in Li-S batteries with CIL-protected ultrathin (33 μm) Li anode compared with 58.5% for bare Li anode, further demonstrating the potential of this strategy for practical applications. This study presents a feasible interfacial regulation strategy to protect Li anode with the presence of Li polysulfides and opens avenues for Li anode protection in Li-S batteries under practical conditions.

Subfields: Automotive Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/eb6d1b4fd775b2223c5e613a230fe6bec010b1b1