The use of polymers in Li‐S batteries: A review

Abstract

Recent developments in the use of polymeric materials as device components in lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries are reviewed. Li-S batteries have generated tremendous interest as a next generation battery exhibiting charge capacities and energy densities that greatly exceed Li-ion battery technologies. In this Highlight, the first comprehensive review focusing on the use of polymeric materials throughout these devices is provided. The key role polymers play in Li-S technology is presented and organized in terms of the basic components that comprise a Li-S battery: the cathode, separator, electrolyte, and anode. After a straightforward introduction to the construction of a conventional Li-S device and the mechanisms at work during cell operation, the use of polymers as binders, protective coatings, separators, electrolytes, and electroactive materials in Li-S batteries will be reviewed.

Polyimides as cathodic materials in lithium batteries: Effect of the chemical structure of the diamine monomer

“…See Figure S1 for the reaction scheme. Yield: 9.80 g (80%); mp 5 228-231 8; 1 NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d 6 The solution of (CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 NLi (6.64 g, 23.1 mmol) in 15 mL of distilled water was added dropwise to the solution of 3,3bis(4-aminophenyl)-(N-ethyl)quinuclidinium iodide (8.00 g, 17.8 mmol) in 60 mL of H 2 O:EtOH (3:1 by volume) mixture under stirring at ambient temperature. The stirring was continued for 2 h and the precipitation of the bright yellow solid was observed.…”

“…The powder was collected by filtration, thoroughly washed with water and dried at 80 8/1 mm Hg for 12 h. See Figure S1 for the reaction scheme. Yield: 9.87 g (92%); mp 5 182-183 j ; 1 NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d 6…”

“…Redox polymers feature a lot of advantages such as film forming ability, flexibility, abundant resources, versatile chemical structures, tunable redox properties, and recyclability . Thus, during past decade the battery research was focused on extensive synthesis and study of various redox‐active polymers, among them conducting polymers or nitroxyl radical, carbonyl, and sulfur containing polymers received special attention. Among carbonyl polymers, polyimides possess rather high capacity and tunable redox potential apart from advantage of their well known and scalable synthesis …”

Review—Non-Carbonaceous Materials as Cathodes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

“…Moreover, a stronger interaction between the polymer and the different sulfur composites takes place, because of the presence of specific functional groups in the polymeric structure. 12,40 Although polymers were originally thought as more likely materials to be incorporated into cathodes, with respect to metal oxides, a tendency to the study and exploration of the latter has been recently observed. Later on, the synthesis of hybrid composite materials, where both polymer and metal oxides are used, has been reported.…”

“…11,12 To the best of our knowledge, this important field has not yet been reviewed or critically analyzed as a whole, except for two reviews on polymeric compounds only 12,40 and a recent review on nanostructured metal oxides and sulfides. 41 In the present review, we wish to present and discuss the performance of those non-carbonaceous materials, making a special emphasis on publications in the field from the last eight years.…”