The practical application of lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries is still an issue mainly due to the shuttle phenomenon originating from the migration of lithium polysulfides (LiPs) between the electrodes, which leads to low Columbic efficiency and rapid capacity fading. In this work, sulfur electrodes are coated with TiO 2 thin films via a magnetron sputtering technique at varying deposition times. A stable capacity contribution (66%) from the long-chain to short-chain LiPs reactions is achieved for the TiO 2 coated electrodes, whereas a decline from 66% to 62% is observed for the uncoated electrode. This indicates a reversible use of the long-chain LiPs for the TiO 2 coated electrodes, representing a more efficient utilization of the active material. Correspondingly, the capacity retention is improved from 68.8% to 88.5% after TiO 2 coating. The TiO 2 coated electrode delivers a capacity of 570 mAh/g after 120 cycles at 0.1 C, which is 40% greater than that of the uncoated electrode. Similarly, the TiO 2 coated electrode delivers a capacity of 427 mAh/g after 170 cycles at 0.5 C, which is 67% greater than that of the uncoated electrode. Analysis of the binding energies of LiPs that are adsorbed on the TiO 2 surface by theoretical calculations shows that strong Li−O bonds dominate the interactions between the LiPs and TiO 2 layer. It is suggested that magnetron sputtered TiO 2 at the electrode−electrolyte interface can be effective in suppressing the shuttle effect due to the strong polysulfide adsorbing properties of the TiO 2 thin film.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.