Research Progress toward the Practical Applications of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lochala, Joshua; Liu, Dianying; Wu, Bingbin; Robinson, Cynthia; Xiao, Jie

doi:10.1021/acsami.7b06208

Cited by 103 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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Section: -6mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the engineering field of Li−S batteries, it is a difficult tradeoff between the energy density (>350 Wh kg −1 ) and lifespan (>100 cycles), even with the neglection of the power density. 32,33 There is still a long way for Li−S batteries to enter practical applications.Relative to the extensive research on sulfur cathode in Li−S batteries, the anode investigation is less involved (Figure 1). By June 2014, 69% of the literatures on Li−S batteries focus on the sulfur cathode, while only 3% on the Li anode.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Review—Li Metal Anode in Working Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Cheng

Huang

Zhang

2017

J. Electrochem. Soc.

243

170

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Due to the high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg −1 , lithium-sulfur batteries are strongly regarded as the promising nextgeneration energy storage devices. However, the practical applications of lithium-sulfur batteries are challenged by several obstacles, including the low sulfur utilization and poor lifespan, which are partly attributed to the shuttle of lithium polysulfides and lithium dendrite growth in working lithium-sulfur batteries. Suppressing lithium dendrite growth is a necessary step not only for a safe and efficient Li metal anode, but also for a high capacity cell with a high Coulombic efficiency. Herein we review the lithium metal anode protection in a polysulfide-rich environment, relative to most reviews on lithium metal anode without considering the effect of lithium polysulfides in lithium metal batteries. Firstly, the importance and dilemma of Li metal anode issues in lithium-sulfur batteries are underscored, aiming to arouse the attentions to Li metal anode protection. Specific attentions are paid to the surface chemistry of Li metal anode in a polysulfide-rich lithium-sulfur battery. Next, the proposed strategies to stabilize solid electrolyte interface and protect Li metal anode are included. Finally, a general conclusion and a perspective on the current limitations, as well as recommended future research directions of Li metal anode in lithium-sulfur batteries are presented. The ever-increasing requirement for efficient and economic energy storage technologies has triggered the continued research into advanced battery systems.1 Lithium ion batteries, based on the lithium intercalation chemistry, have dominated the battery market since their commercial application in the 1990s.2 However, conventional lithium ion batteries are very expensive and their energy densities (theoretically, 350 − 500 Wh kg −1 , practically, 100 − 250 Wh kg −1 ) seem insufficient for long-range electrical vehicles and high-end portable electronics. These emerging demands have energized the evolution of other alternative rechargeable batteries with higher energy density and longer lifespan.3 Lithium−sulfur (Li−S) battery, a 'beyond Li-ion' technology, has drawn extensive attentions due to its high specific capacity (1675 mAh g −1 ) and energy density (2600 Wh kg −1 ). 4-6The greater energy storage ability of Li−S batteries is realized through the phase-transformation electrochemistry based on elemental sulfur cathode and metallic lithium anode [S 8 + 16Li ↔ 8Li 2 S], 7,8 which is fundamentally different from current transition metal-based cathodes and graphite-based anodes in Li-ion batteries.The conversion chemistry in a Li−S cell offers not only significant advantages as mentioned above, but also some critical challenges, such as the low conductivity of sulfur and lithium sulfide, the huge volumetric change from sulfur (71 mol L −1 ) to lithium sulfide (36 mol L −1 ), and the shuttle of long-chain polysulfide intermediates during discharge/charge cycling.9-12 Therefore, a composite cathode with sulfur in ...

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Section: -6mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Review—Li Metal Anode in Working Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Cheng

Huang

Zhang

2017

J. Electrochem. Soc.

243

170

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“…The high energy density of Li–S batteries is achieved by a stepwise reduction of sulfur to lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and further to lithium sulfide (Li 2 S), exerting a distinct dissolution/precipitation mechanism . However, the insulating end‐redox products (S/Li 2 S) and massive lithium polysulfide migration impose great kinetic challenges to fully realize energy‐dense Li–S batteries . The complex S/Li 2 S deposition and accumulation on the conductive scaffolds render high barriers for both charge and mass transport, especially under high sulfur loading and low electrolyte/sulfur ratio conditions .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[8][9][10] However, the insulating end-redox products (S/Li 2 S) and massive lithium polysulfide migration impose great kinetic challenges to fully realize energy-dense Li-S batteries. 11,12 The complex S/Li 2 S deposition and accumulation on the conductive scaffolds render high barriers for both charge and mass transport, especially under high sulfur loading and low electrolyte/sulfur ratio conditions. [13][14][15][16] Therefore, propelling sulfur redox kinetics and mediating Li 2 S precipitation constitute grand challenges to achieve robust Li-S batteries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expediting redox kinetics of sulfur species by atomic‐scale electrocatalysts in lithium–sulfur batteries

Kong

Chang-xin

et al. 2019

InfoMat

277

170

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Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have extremely high theoretical energy density that make them as promising systems toward vast practical applications. Expediting redox kinetics of sulfur species is a decisive task to break the kinetic limitation of insulating lithium sulfide/disulfide precipitation/dissolution. Herein, we proposed a porphyrin‐derived atomic electrocatalyst to exert atomic‐efficient electrocatalytic effects on polysulfide intermediates. Quantifying electrocatalytic efficiency of liquid/solid conversion through a potentiostatic intermittent titration technique measurement presents a kinetic understanding of specific phase evolutions imparted by the atomic electrocatalyst. Benefiting from atomically dispersed “lithiophilic” and “sulfiphilic” sites on conductive substrates, the finely designed atomic electrocatalyst endows Li–S cells with remarkable cycling stablity (cyclic decay rate of 0.10% in 300 cycles), excellent rate capability (1035 mAh g−1 at 2 C), and impressive areal capacity (10.9 mAh cm−2 at a sulfur loading of 11.3 mg cm−2). The present work expands atomic electrocatalysts to the Li–S chemistry, deepens kinetic understanding of sulfur species evolution, and encourages application of emerging electrocatalysis in other multielectron/multiphase reaction energy systems.

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“…Significantly fewer studies aim to remove these limitations by the design of other cell components, and even fewer are focused on non-material related aspects such cell operation and control. Contrary to the current approach, Figure 1 demonstrates that the review papers suggest a holistic, balanced approach to solving the problems faced by Li-S. 10,27,33,34 The results of this review indicate the research community has largely ignored its own advice. …”

mentioning

confidence: 78%

Perspective—Commercializing Lithium Sulfur Batteries: Are We Doing the Right Research?

Cleaver

Kováčik

Marinescu

et al. 2017

J. Electrochem. Soc.

133

144

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A picture of the challenges faced by the lithium-sulfur technology and the activities pursued by the research community to solve them is synthesized based on 1992 scientific articles. It is shown that, against its own advice of adopting a balanced approach to development, the community has instead focused work on the cathode. To help direct future work, key areas of neglected research are highlighted, including cell operation studies, modelling, anode, electrolyte and production methods, as well as development goals for real world target applications such as high altitude unmanned aerial vehicles. Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) batteries are one of the most promising next generation battery technologies 1 due to their high theoretical energy density, low materials cost, and relative safety.2 Li-S has the potential to achieve significantly higher gravimetric energy density than intercalation based lithium ion technologies, 3 with some companies already reporting 400 Wh/kg cells. 4,5 However, Li-S has a lower comparable volumetric energy, 6 suggesting that applications where minimising mass is more important than volume will adopt it faster. Li-S technology is close to industrial production, 7 with a number of companies scaling up manufacturing capabilities for large capacity cells. 4,5 Meanwhile, the number of Li-S research papers published per year has increased dramatically from less than 50 in 2010 to over 900 in 2016. We have reviewed almost two thousand articles to identify the major gaps in research and discussed how targeting them could speed up the development and adoption of Li-S technology. We also discuss how from an industry/applied research viewpoint focussing on a performance metric, such as power density, would speed up development iterations, getting products to market sooner and help unlock further research funding. Current StatusLi-S cells are already commercially viable in niche applications. In order to expand their market potential, however, there are still many challenges to overcome, such as limited cycle life, high self-discharge rates and over-heating at end of charge. Many of these are thought to be caused by the shuttle, where cathode species diffuse to the anode and react directly with the metallic lithium.8 Multiple solutions have therefore been proposed to prevent shuttle, such as physically 9,10 or chemically 11-13 encapsulating the sulfur, designing tailored carbon structures, 14 using electrolyte additives, 15,16 separators, 17 protective layers, 18 or solid electrolytes to physically protect the anode. 19-21However, many of these solutions affect energy or power density adversely or do not function in practical commercial cells. Li-S batteries also undergo significant volume changes during operation, which poses a particular challenge for battery pack system designers and is being studied only since recently. 22 These observations have only been possible since large form factor pouch cells are available. The effect of precipitation on useable capacity and reversible capacity loss, 23 and ...

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Research Progress toward the Practical Applications of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Cited by 103 publications

References 87 publications

Review—Li Metal Anode in Working Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Review—Li Metal Anode in Working Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Expediting redox kinetics of sulfur species by atomic‐scale electrocatalysts in lithium–sulfur batteries

Perspective—Commercializing Lithium Sulfur Batteries: Are We Doing the Right Research?

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