Polysulfide binding to several nanoscale TinO2n-1 Magnéli phases by simple synthesis in carbon for efficient and long life, high mass loaded lithium sulfur battery cathodes
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Accepted version
Date
2018-04-06
Authors
Zubair, Usman
Amici, Julia
Francia, Carlotta
McNulty, David
Bodoardo, Silvia
O'Dwyer, Colm
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Published Version
Abstract
In Li‐S batteries, it is important to ensure efficient reversible conversion of sulfur to lithium polysulfide (LiPS). Shuttling effects caused by LiPS dissolution can lead to reduced performance and cycle life. While carbons rely on physical trapping of polysulfides, polar oxide surfaces can chemically bind LiPS to improve the stability of sulfur cathodes. We show a simple synthetic method allowing high sulfur loading into mesoporous carbon, pre‐loaded with spatially localized nanoparticles of several Magnéli phase titanium oxide, TinO2n‐1. This material simultaneously suppresses polysulfide shuttling phenomena by chemically binding Li polysulfides onto several Magnéli phase surfaces in a single cathode, and ensures physical confinement of sulfur and LiPS. The synergy between chemical immobilization of significant quantities of LiPS at the surface of several TinO2n‐1 phases, and physical entrapment ensures Coulombically efficient, long cycle life, high capacity and high rate cathode. These cathodes function efficiently at low electrolyte to sulfur (E/S) ratios to provide high gravimetric and volumetric capacities in comparison with highly porous carbon counterparts. Assembled coin cells have an initial discharge capacity of 1100 mA h g‐1 at 0.1 C, and maintain a reversible capacity of 520 mA h g‐1 at 0.2 C for more than 500 cycles. Even at 1C, the cell loses only 0.06% per cycle for 1000 cycles with Coulombic efficiency close to 99%.
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Keywords
Li-S battery , Nanoparticle , Energy storage
Citation
Zubair, U., Amici, J., Francia, C., McNulty, D., Bodoardo, S. and O'Dwyer, C. (2018) 'Polysulfide binding to several nanoscale TinO2n-1 Magnéli phases by simple synthesis in carbon for efficient and long life, high mass loaded lithium sulfur battery cathodes', Chemsuschem, In Press, doi: 10.1002/cssc.201800484
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© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: (2018) Polysulfide Binding to Several Nanoscale TinO2n‐1 Magnéli Phases by Simple Synthesis in Carbon for Efficient and Long Life, High Mass Loaded Lithium Sulfur Battery Cathodes, ChemSusChem, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201800484. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.