Realizing High-Performance Sulfur Cathodes through a Self-Healing and Confining Strategy

Abstract

Shuttling effect and mechanical pulverization are main challenges impeding the practical application of sulfur cathodes for high energy-density Li−S batteries. Here we demonstrate that such issues can be effectively addressed by embedding sulfur microparticles into a self-healable and polysulfide-confining binder comprising of trithiocarbonate, carboxylic acid, and amino functionalities. In the charge/ discharge process, the binder autonomously integrates the pulverized sulfur particles together via its excellent selfhealability and good extendibility, but also effectively confines the generated polysulfides by its polar functionalities. Consequently, the resulting sulfur cathodes deliver high reversible capacity, excellent rate capability, and good cycling stability. This self-healing and confining strategy provides a novel insight into the structural collapse and shuttle effect of sulfur cathodes.

Exploiting Self‐Healing in Lithium Batteries: Strategies for Next‐Generation Energy Storage Devices

“…Adapted with permission. [218] Copyright 2018 America, Chemical Society. battery was proposed by Yu et al [232] The protecting film was obtained in situ by adding to the electrolyte an additive, TEOS, which spontaneously reacts with the main lithium corrosion product (LiOH) to form a silane film, so providing a dynamic self-healing effect as illustrated in Figure 14.…”

“…proposed a novel binder including trithiocarbonate, carboxylic, and amino functionalities, which exhibits excellent self‐healability ( Figure 13 a,b). [ 218 ] As shown in Figure 13c, the sulfur cathode (60% of active material) made with the novel binder showed an initial capacity of 650 mAh g –1 with a retention of 90% after 200 cycles and a stable Coulombic efficiency of 99.7%.…”

Environmentally Friendly Binders for Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

“…Inflating the balloons, PVDF/super P composite coating on balloon surface crushed with balloon expansion, while SHM/super P composite coating recovered to its original shape after 40 times area expansion and the resistance only increased 34 %. Chu et al . designed a self‐healable binder (denoted as PDEM‐CT) comprising trithiocarbonate, carboxylic and amino functionalities (Figure a).…”

High Stable Sulfur Cathode with Self‐Healable and Physical Confining Polydimethylsiloxane Interlayer

“…Therefore, extensive studies had been focused on encapsulating sulfur with polar nanomaterials rich in oxygen/nitrogen-containing moieties. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Through strong chemical interactions between the polar moieties and polysulfides, the shuttle effect was significantly suppressed and the resulting sulfur cathodes realized a long cycling life. Although the effectiveness of the strategies, some amount of polysulfides still dissolved in the electrolyte and thus giving rise to the performance degradation.…”

“…Nevertheless, physical confinement alone cannot effectively suppress the shuttle effect. Therefore, extensive studies had been focused on encapsulating sulfur with polar nanomaterials rich in oxygen/nitrogen‐containing moieties . Through strong chemical interactions between the polar moieties and polysulfides, the shuttle effect was significantly suppressed and the resulting sulfur cathodes realized a long cycling life.…”