The X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of lithium polysulfides (Li2Sx) of various chain lengths (x) dissolved in a model solvent are obtained from first-principles calculations. The spectra exhibit two main absorption features near the sulfur K-edge, which are unambiguously interpreted as a pre-edge near 2471 eV due to the terminal sulfur atoms at either end of the linear polysulfide dianions and a main-edge near 2473 eV due to the (x - 2) internal atoms in the chain, except in the case of Li2S2, which only has a low-energy feature. We find an almost linear dependence between the ratio of the peaks and chain length, although the linear dependence is modified by the delocalized, molecular nature of the core-excited states that can span up to six neighboring sulfur atoms. Thus, our results indicate that the ratio of the peak area, and not the peak intensities, should be used when attempting to differentiate the polysulfides from XAS.

The presence and role of polysulfide radicals in the electrochemical processes of lithium sulfur (Li–S) batteries is currently being debated. Here, first‐principles interpretations of measured X‐ray absorption spectra (XAS) of Li–S cells are leveraged with an ether‐based electrolyte. Unambiguous evidence is found for significant quantities of polysulfide radical species (LiS3, LiS4, and LiS5), including the trisulfur radical anion S3 −, present after initial discharge to the first discharge plateau, as evidenced by a low energy shoulder in the S K‐edge XAS below 2469 eV. This feature is not present in the XAS of cells at increased depth of discharge, which, by our analysis, exhibit increasing concentrations of progressively shorter polysulfide dianions. Through a combination of first‐principles molecular dynamics and associated interpretation of in situ XAS of Li–S cells, atomic level insights into the chemistries are provided that underlie the operation and stability of these batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have a theoretical specific energy that is a factor of five greater than that of current lithium-ion batteries, but suffer from consequences of the solubility of lithium polysulfide reaction intermediates that form as the batteries are charged and discharged. These species can react with each other and diffuse out of the cathode, causing battery capacity to fade and ultimately, cell failure. In spite of work that has spanned four decades, "fingerprints" of polysulfides have not yet been established, precluding a systematic study of lithium-sulfur chemistry. Herein we demonstrate the use of principal component analysis of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to obtain fingerprints of lithium polysulfides. This approach enables interpretation of spectral data without any assumptions regarding the origin of the observed spectral features or knowledge of the stability of the polysulfide species of interest. We show that in poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid electrolytes containing polysulfides made by chemically reacting Li 2 S and elemental sulfur, Li 2 S 2 and Li 2 S 6 spontaneously disproportionate to give binary Li 2 S/Li 2 S 4 and Li 2 S 4 /Li 2 S 8 mixtures, respectively, while Li 2 S 4 and Li 2 S 8 exist as single molecular species. XAS fingerprints of Li 2 S 4 and Li 2 S 8 are thus presented.

Despite high ionic conductivities, current inorganic solid electrolytes cannot be used in lithium batteries because of a lack of compliance and adhesion to active particles in battery electrodes as they are discharged and charged. We have successfully developed a compliant, nonflammable, hybrid single ion-conducting electrolyte comprising inorganic sulfide glass particles covalently bonded to a perfluoropolyether polymer. The hybrid with 23 wt% perfluoropolyether exhibits low shear modulus relative to neat glass electrolytes, ionic conductivity of 10 −4 S/cm at room temperature, a cation transference number close to unity, and an electrochemical stability window up to 5 V relative to Li + /Li. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that the hybrid electrolyte limits lithium polysulfide dissolution and is, thus, ideally suited for Li-S cells. Our work opens a previously unidentified route for developing compliant solid electrolytes that will address the challenges of lithium batteries.hybrid electrolytes | inorganic sulfide glasses | fluorinated polymers | lithium batteries | lithium-sulfur batteries E lectrolytes used in lithium ion batteries that power personal electronic devices and electric vehicles comprise lithium salts dissolved in flammable organic liquids. Catastrophic battery failure often begins with the electrolyte decomposition and combustion. In addition, side reactions between the electrolyte and anode particles result in steady capacity fade. Some of the byproducts of side reactions can dissolve in the electrolyte and migrate from one electrode to the other. This effect is minimized in the case of solid electrolytes because of limited solubility and slow diffusion (1). Mixtures of liquids and salts have additional limitations. The passage of current results in an accumulation of salt in the vicinity of one electrode and depletion close to the other electrode, because only the cation participates in the electrochemical reactions. Both overconcentrated and depleted electrolytes have lower conductivity, which accentuates cell polarization and reduces power capability. Concentration polarization is absent in single-ion conductors, wherein the anions are immobilized (2). Nonflammable, single ionconducting solid electrolytes have the potential to dramatically improve safety and performance of lithium batteries (3-6).Solid electrolytes, such as inorganic sulfide glasses (Li 2 S-P 2 S 5 ), are single-ion conductors with high shear moduli (18-25 GPa) and high ionic conductivity (over 10 −4 S/cm) at room temperature (7,8). However, these materials, on their own, cannot serve as efficient electrolytes, because they cannot adhere to moving boundaries of the active particles in the battery electrode as they are charged and discharged. Hayashi et al. (9) prepared hybrid electrolytes by mixing sulfide glasses and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymers. Although the addition of PEO improves mechanical flexibility, there is a dramatic decrease in ionic conductivity because of the insulative nature of PEO. For exampl...

Lithium sulfur batteries have a theoretical specific energy 5 times greater than current lithium ion battery standards, but suffer from the issue of lithium polysulfide dissolution. The reaction mechanisms that underlie the formation of lithium polysulfide reaction intermediates have been studied for over four decades, yet still elude researchers. Polysulfide radical anions formed during the redox processes have become a focal point of fundamental Li−S battery research. The formation of radical species has even been shown to be advantageous to the electrochemical pathways. However, whether polysulfide radical anions can form and be stabilized in common Li−S battery electrolytes that are ether-based is a point of contention in Li−S battery research. The goal of this work was to examine the presence of radical polysulfide species in ether-based solvents. Lithium polysulfide solutions in tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether and poly(ethylene oxide) are probed using a combination of ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR results confirm the presence of radical species in ether-based electrolytes. Comparison of the UV−vis spectra to EPR spectra establishes that the UV−vis absorbance signature for radical species in ether-based solvents occurs at a wavelength of 617 nm, which is consistent with what is observed for high electron pair donor solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide.

An understanding of the complex solution phase chemistry of dissolved lithium polysulfides is critical to approaches aimed at improving the cyclability and commercial viability of lithium sulfur batteries. Experimental measurements are frustrated by the versatile sulfur-sulfur bond, with spontaneous disproportionation and interconversion leading to unknown equilibrium distributions of polysulfides with varying lengths and charge states. Here, the solubility of isolated lithium polysulfides is calculated from first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. We explore the associated changes in the dissolution free energy, enthalpy and entropy in two regimes: liquid-phase monodentate solvation in dimethylformamide (DMF) and polymer-like chelation in bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme). In both of these technologically relevant solvents, we show that the competition between enthalpy and entropy, related to specific interfacial atomic interactions, conspires to increase the relative stability of long chain dianionic species, which exist as Li-LiS contact-ion-pairs. Further, we propose a mechanism of radical polysulfide stabilization in simple solvents through the reorientation of the 1 shell solvent molecules to screen electrostatic fields emanating from the solute and explain nonmonotonicity of the dissolution entropy with polysulfide length in terms of a three-shell solvation model. Our analysis provides statistical dynamics insights into polylsulfide stability, useful to understand or predict the relevant chemical species present in the solvent at low concentrations.

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Impregnation of porous carbon matrices with liquid sulfur has been exploited to fabricate composite cathodes for lithium−sulfur batteries, aimed at confining soluble sulfur species near conducting carbon to prevent both loss of active material into the electrolyte and parasitic reactions at the lithium metal anode. Here, through extensive computer simulations, we uncover the strongly favorable interfacial free energy between liquid sulfur and graphitic surfaces that underlies this phenomenon. Previously unexplored curvaturedependent enhancements are shown to favor the filling of smaller pores first and effect a quasi-liquid sulfur phase in microporous domains (diameters <2 nm) that persists ∼30°b elow the expected freezing point. Evidence of interfacial sulfur on carbon is shown to be a 0.3 eV red shift in the simulated and measured interfacial X-ray absorption spectra. Our results elucidate the critical morphology and thermodynamic properties necessary for future cathode design and highlight the importance of molecular-scale details in defining emergent properties of functional nanoscale interfaces.