High Energy Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Based on Carbonaceous Two-Dimensional Additive Cathodes.

The increasing demand for electrical energy storage makes it essential to explore alternative battery chemistries that overcome the energy-density limitations of the current state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. In this scenario, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) stand out due to the low cost, high theoretical capacity, and sustainability of sulfur. However, this battery technology presents several intrinsic limitations that need to be addressed in order to definitively achieve its commercialization. Herein, we report the fruitfulness of three different formulations using well-selected functional carbonaceous additives for sulfur cathode development, an in-house synthesized graphene-based porous carbon (ResFArGO), and a mixture of commercially available conductive carbons (CAs), as a facile and scalable strategy for the development of high-performing LSBs. The additives clearly improve the electrochemical properties of the sulfur electrodes due to an electronic conductivity enhancement, leading to an outstanding C-rate response with a remarkable capacity of 2 mA h cm-2 at 1C and superb capacities of 4.3, 4.0, and 3.6 mA h cm-2 at C/10 for ResFArGO10, ResFArGO5, and CAs, respectively. Moreover, in the case of ResFArGO, the presence of oxygen functional groups enables the development of compact high sulfur loading cathodes (>4 mgS cm-2) with a great ability to trap the soluble lithium polysulfides. Notably, the scalability of our system was further demonstrated by the assembly of prototype pouch cells delivering excellent capacities of 90 mA h (ResFArGO10 cell) and 70 mA h (ResFArGO5 and CAs cell) at C/10.

Production of high-energy Li-ion batteries comprising silicon-containing anodes and insertion-type cathodes.

Rechargeable Li-based battery technologies utilising silicon, silicon-based, and Si-derivative anodes coupled with high-capacity/high-voltage insertion-type cathodes have reaped significant interest from both academic and industrial sectors. This stems from their practically achievable energy density, offering a new avenue towards the mass-market adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, such high-energy systems are limited by their complex chemistry and intrinsic drawbacks. From this perspective, we present the progress, current status, prevailing challenges and mitigating strategies of Li-based battery systems comprising silicon-containing anodes and insertion-type cathodes. This is accompanied by an assessment of their potential to meet the targets for evolving volume- and weight-sensitive applications such as electro-mobility.

Improvement of Lithium Metal Polymer Batteries through a Small Dose of Fluorinated Salt.

Introducing a small dose of an electrolyte additive into solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) is an appealing strategy for improving the quality of the solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) layer formed on the lithium metal (Li°) anode, thereby extending the cycling life of solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs). In this work, we report a new type of SPEs comprising a low-cost, fluorine-free salt, lithium tricyanomethanide, as the main conducting salt and a fluorinated salt, lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), as the electrolyte additive for enhancing the performance of SPE-based SSLMBs. Our results demonstrate that a homogeneous and stable SEI layer is readily formed on the surface of the Li° electrode through the preferential reductive decomposition of LiFSI, and consequently, the cycle stabilities of Li°||Li° and Li°||LiFePO4 cells are significantly improved after the incorporation of LiFSI as an additive. The intriguing chemistry of the salt anion revealed in this work may expedite the large-scale implementation of SSLMBs in the near future.

Enhanced Lithium-Ion Conductivity of Polymer Electrolytes by Selective Introduction of Hydrogen into the Anion.

The anion chemistry of lithium salts plays a pivotal role in dictating the physicochemical and electrochemical performance of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), thus affecting the cyclability of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs). The bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion (TFSI- ) has long been studied as the most promising candidate for SPEs; however, the Li-ion conductivities of the TFSI-based SPEs still remain low (Li-ion transference number: ca. 0.2). In this work, we report new hydrogen-containing anions, conceived based on theoretical considerations, as an electrolyte salt for SPEs. SPEs comprising hydrogen-containing anions achieve higher Li-ion conductivities than TFSI-based ones, and those anions are electrochemically stable for various kinds of ASSLMBs (Li-LiFePO4 , Li-S, and Li-O2 batteries). This opens up a new avenue for designing safe and high-performance ASSLMBs in the future.

Ultrahigh Performance All Solid-State Lithium Sulfur Batteries: Salt Anion's Chemistry-Induced Anomalous Synergistic Effect.

With a remarkably higher theoretical energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and abundance of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries have emerged as one of the most promising alternatives among all the post LIB technologies. In particular, the coupling of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with the cell chemistry of Li-S batteries enables a safe and high-capacity electrochemical energy storage system, due to the better processability and less flammability of SPEs compared to liquid electrolytes. However, the practical deployment of all solid-state Li-S batteries (ASSLSBs) containing SPEs is largely hindered by the low accessibility of active materials and side reactions of soluble polysulfide species, resulting in a poor specific capacity and cyclability. In the present work, an ultrahigh performance of ASSLSBs is obtained via an anomalous synergistic effect between (fluorosulfonyl)(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anions inherited from the design of lithium salts in SPEs and the polysulfide species formed during the cycling. The corresponding Li-S cells deliver high specific/areal capacity (1394 mAh gsulfur-1, 1.2 mAh cm-2), good Coulombic efficiency, and superior rate capability (∼800 mAh gsulfur-1 after 60 cycles). These results imply the importance of the molecular structure of lithium salts in ASSLSBs and pave a way for future development of safe and cost-effective Li-S batteries.

Electrolyte Additives for Lithium Metal Anodes and Rechargeable Lithium Metal Batteries: Progress and Perspectives.

Lithium metal (Li0 ) rechargeable batteries (LMBs), such as systems with a Li0 anode and intercalation and/or conversion type cathode, lithium-sulfur (Li-S), and lithium-oxygen (O2 )/air (Li-O2 /air) batteries, are becoming increasingly important for electrifying the modern transportation system, with the aim of sustainable mobility. Although some rechargeable LMBs (e.g. Li0 /LiFePO4 batteries from Bolloré Bluecar, Li-S batteries from OXIS Energy and Sion Power) are already commercially viable in niche applications, their large-scale deployment is hampered by a number of formidable challenges, including growth of lithium dendrites, electrolyte instability towards high voltage intercalation-type cathodes, the poor electronic and ionic conductivities of sulfur (S8 ) and O2 , as well as their corresponding reduction products (e.g. Li2 S and Li2 O), dissolution, and shuttling of polysulfide (PS) intermediates. This leads to a short lifecycle, low coulombic/energy efficiency, poor safety, and a high self-discharge rate. The use of electrolyte additives is considered one of the most economical and effective approaches for circumventing these problems. This Review gives an overview of the various functional additives that are being applied and aims to stimulate new avenues for the practical realization of these appealing devices.

Lithium Azide as an Electrolyte Additive for All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Of the various beyond-lithium-ion battery technologies, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have an appealing theoretical energy density and are being intensely investigated as next-generation rechargeable lithium-metal batteries. However, the stability of the lithium-metal (Li°) anode is among the most urgent challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the long-term stability of Li-S batteries. Herein, we report lithium azide (LiN3 ) as a novel electrolyte additive for all-solid-state Li-S batteries (ASSLSBs). It results in the formation of a thin, compact and highly conductive passivation layer on the Li° anode, thereby avoiding dendrite formation, and polysulfide shuttling. It greatly enhances the cycling performance, Coulombic and energy efficiencies of ASSLSBs, outperforming the state-of-the-art additive lithium nitrate (LiNO3 ).

Polymer-Rich Composite Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Li-S Cells.

Polymer-rich composite electrolytes with lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide/poly(ethylene oxide) (LiFSI/PEO) containing either Li-ion conducting glass ceramic (LICGC) or inorganic Al2O3 fillers are investigated in all-solid-state Li-S cells. In the presence of the fillers, the ionic conductivity of the composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) does not increase compared to the plain LiFSI/PEO electrolyte at various tested temperatures. The CPE with Al2O3 fillers improves the stability of the Li/electrolyte interface, while the Li-S cell with a LICGC-based CPE delivers high sulfur utilization of 1111 mAh g-1 and areal capacity of 1.14 mAh cm-2. In particular, the cell performance gets further enhanced when combining these two CPEs (Li | Al2O3-CPE/LICGC-CPE | S), reaching a capacity of 518 mAh g-1 and 0.53 mAh cm-2 with Coulombic efficiency higher than 99% at the end of 50 cycles at 70 °C. This study shows that the CPEs can be promising electrolyte candidates to develop safe and high-performance all-solid-state Li-S batteries.

Lithium Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide/Poly(ethylene oxide) Polymer Electrolyte for All Solid-State Li-S Cell.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) comprising lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (Li[N(SO2F)2], LiFSI) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been studied as electrolyte material and binder for the Li-S polymer cell. The LiFSI-based Li-S all solid polymer cell can deliver high specific discharge capacity of 800 mAh gsulfur-1 (i.e., 320 mAh gcathode-1), high areal capacity of 0.5 mAh cm-2, and relatively good rate capability. The cycling performances of Li-S polymer cell with LiFSI are significantly improved compared with those with conventional LiTFSI (Li[N(SO2CF3)2]) salt in the polymer membrane due to the improved stability of the Li anode/electrolyte interphases formed in the LiFSI-based SPEs. These results suggest that the LiFSI-based SPEs are attractive electrolyte materials for solid-state Li-S batteries.