Carbon Materials as the Matrices for Sulfur in Li-S Batteries

Abstract

Development of advanced energy-storage batteries for portable electronic devices and electric vehicles must accomplish several requirements: safety, low-cost, nature friendly, long lifecycle, high energy density, and high theoretical capacity. Lithium-sulfur batteries can execute these requirements. However, the practical application of lithium-sulfur battery is hindered by several major disabilities, such as volumetric expansion of sulfur, structural instability, high self-discharging, poor electronic conductivity of sulfur, and low cycle life. This article deals with different types of carbons as additives in cathode for lithium-sulfur battery.

Fe-Based metal–organic frameworks as functional materials for battery applications

“…122 What's more, sulfur is naturally abundant, environmentally friendly and cost-effective, thus lithium–sulfur batteries have become a feasible alternative for energy storage devices in the future. 40 However, there are still several problems in the commercialization of LSBs: (1) as an insulator, sulfur leads to large electrochemical polarization and battery impedance; 123 (2) during cycling, the intermediate polysulfides may dissolve in the organic electrolyte and deposit on the lithium metal anode through the diaphragm, and operate the “shuttle effect”; 124–126 and (3) the volume expansion of materials during the cycle leads to cathode failure. 127,128…”

Post-synthetically modified metal–porphyrin framework GaTCPP for carbon dioxide adsorption and energy storage in Li–S batteries

“…54,55 Improving the electrochemical behaviour of the sulphur cathode can be achieved with various carbon materials with high conductivity, tunability, and porosity. 56 As such, several types of materials have been used to improve cyclic stability: functionalized carbon, 57,58 metal oxides/sulphides/ nitrides, [59][60][61] covalent-organic frameworks 62 and metal-organic frameworks, [63][64][65][66][67][68][69] all of the mentioned materials have a high affinity for polar polysulphides.…”

Aligned Bilayer of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Suppresses the Polysulfide Shuttle in Li–S Batteries

“…The electrochemical reaction produces lower polysulfides (Li 2 S, Li 2 S 2 ) and higher polysulfides (Li 2 S 4 , Li 2 S 6 , Li 2 S 8 ). Higher polysulfides are soluble in the electrolytes and migrate freely between the electrodes and deposit on the surface of the Li metal anode . This free migration leads to active material loss and triggers the polysulfide shuttle effect …”

“…Higher polysulfides are soluble in the electrolytes and migrate freely between the electrodes and deposit on the surface of the Li metal anode. 10 This free migration leads to active material loss and triggers the polysulfide shuttle effect. 11 To date, many researchers have focused on reducing the migration of higher polysulfides in Li−S batteries to improve their electrochemical performance.…”