• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.228-233
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• 2016

It is hard to employ the carbon materials or the lithium metal foil for the anode of lithium sulfur batteries because of the poor passivation in ether-based electrolytes and the formation of lithium dendrites, respectively. Herein, we investigated the electrochemical characteristics of lithium sulfur batteries with lithiated silicon anode in the liquid electrolytes based on ether solvents. The silicon anodes were lithiated by direct contact with lithium foil in a 1M lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) solution in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) at a volume ratio of 1:1. They were readily lithiated up to ~40% of their theoretical capacity with a 30 min contact time. In particular, the carbon mesh reported in our previous work was employed in order to maximize the performance by capturing the dissolved polysulfide in sulfur cathode. The reversible specific capacity of the lithiated silicon-sulfur batteries with carbon mesh was 1,129 mAh/g during the first cycle, and was maintained at 297 mAh/g even after 50 cycles at 0.2 C, without any problems of poor passivation or lithium dendrite formation.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.466-474
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• 2018

The high theoretical energy density ($2600Wh\;kg^{-1}$) of Lithium-sulfur batteries and the high theoretical capacity of elemental sulfur ($1672mAh\;g^{-1}$) attract significant research attention. However, the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur and the polysulfide shuttle effect are chronic problems resulting in low sulfur utilization and poor cycling stability. In this study, we address these problems by coating a polyethylene separator with a layer of activated carbon powder. A lithium-sulfur cell containing the activated carbon powder-coated separator exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of $1400mAh\;g^{-1}$ at 0.1 C, and retains 63% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles at 0.2 C, whereas the equivalent cell with a bare separator exhibits a $1200mAh\;g^{-1}$ initial specific discharge capacity, and 50% capacity retention under the same conditions. The activated carbon powder-coated separator also enhances the rate capability. These results indicate that the microstructure of the activated carbon powder layer provides space for the sulfur redox reaction and facilitates fast electron transport. Concurrently, the activated carbon powder layer traps and reutilizes any polysulfides dissolved in the electrolyte. The approach presented here provides insights for overcoming the problems associated with lithium-sulfur batteries and promoting their practical use.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권10호
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• pp.3682-3686
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• 2011

The electrochemical properties of lithium-sulfur batteries with binary electrolytes based on DME and DOL, TEGDME and DOL mixed solvent containing $LiClO_4$, LiTFSI, and LiTF salts were investigated. The ionic conductivity of 1M LiTFSI and $LiClO_4$ electrolytes based on TEGDME and DOL increased as the volume ratio of DOL solvent increased, because DOL effectively reduces the viscosity of the above electrolytes medium under the same salts concentration. The first discharge capacity of lithium-sulfur batteries in the DME and DOL-based electrolyte followed this order: LiTFSI (1,000 mAh/g) > LiTF (850 mAh/g) > $LiClO_4$ (750 mAh/g). In case of the electrolyte based on TEGDME and DOL, the first discharge capacity of batteries followed this order: $LiClO_4$ (1,030 mAh/g) > LiTF (770 mAh/g) > LiTFSI (750 mAh/g). The cyclic efficiency of lithium-sulfur batteries at 1M $LiClO_4$ electrolytes is higher than that of batteries at other lithium salts-based electrolytes. Lithium-sulfur battery showed discharge capacity of 550 mAh/g until 20 cycles at all electrolytes based on DME and DOL solvent. By contrast, the discharge capacity of batteries was about 450 mAh/g at 1M LiTFSI and LiTF electrolytes based on TEGDME and DOL solvent after 20 cycles.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.97-114
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• 2016

Lithium batteries based on elemental sulfur as the cathode-active material capture great attraction due to the high theoretical capacity, easy availability, low cost and non-toxicity of sulfur. Although lithium/sulfur (Li/S) primary cells were known much earlier, the interest in developing Li/S secondary batteries that can deliver high energy and high power was actively pursued since early 1990’s. A lot of technical challenges including the low conductivity of sulfur, dissolution of sulfur-reduction products in the electrolyte leading to their migration away from the cathode, and deposition of solid reaction products on cathode matrix had to be tackled to realize a high and stable performance from rechargeable Li/S cells. This article presents briefly an overview of the studies pertaining to the different aspects of Li/S batteries including those that deal with the sulfur electrode, electrolytes, lithium anode and configuration of the batteries.

• 한국분말야금학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국분말야금학회 2006년도 Extended Abstracts of 2006 POWDER METALLURGY World Congress Part2
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• pp.1216-1217
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• 2006

We investigated on the additive effect of carbon nanotube in the sulfur electrode on the first discharge curve and cycling property of lithium/sulfur cell. The sulfur electrode with carbon nanotube had two discharge plateau potentials and the first discharge capacity about 1200 mAh/g sulfur. The addition carbon nanotube into the sulfur electrode did not affect the first discharge behavior, but improved the cycling property of lithium/sulfur cell. The optimum content of carbon nanotube was 6 wt% of sulfur electrode

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.453-457
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• 2021

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are one of attractive energy conversion and storage system based on high theoretical specific capacity and energy density with low costs. However, volatile nature of elemental sulfur is one of critical problem for their practical acceptance in industry because it considerably affects electrode uniformity during electrode manufacturing. In this work, polymeric sulfur composite consisting of ionic liquid (IL) are suggested to reduce volatility nature of elemental sulfur, resulting in better processibility of the Li-S cell. According to systematic spectroscopic analysis, it is found that polymeric sulfur is consisting of repeating units combining with elemental sulfur and volatility of them is negligible even at high temperature. In addition, the IL-embedded polymeric sulfur shows moderate cycle performance compared to the cell with elemental sulfur. From these results, it is found that the IL-embedded polymeric sulfur composite is applicable cathode candidate for the Li-S cell based on their excellent non-volatility as well as their superior electrochemical performance.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

This paper presents applications of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) energy storage batteries, while showing merits and demerits of several techniques to mitigate their electrochemical challenges. Unmanned aerial vehicles, electric cars, and grid-scale energy storage systems represent main applications of Li-S batteries due to their low cost, high specific capacity, and light weight. However, polysulfide shuttle effects, low conductivities, and low coulombic efficiencies signify key challenges of Li-S batteries, causing high volumetric changes, dendritic growths, and limited cycling performances. Solid-state electrolytes, interfacial interlayers, and electrocatalysts denote promising methods to mitigate such challenges. Moreover, nanomaterials have capability to improve kinetic reactions of Li-S batteries based on several properties of nanoparticles to immobilize sulfur in cathodes, stabilizing lithium in anodes while controlling volumetric growths. Li-S energy storage technologies are able to satisfy requirements of future markets for advanced rechargeable batteries with high-power densities and low costs, considering environmentally friendly systems based on renewable energy sources.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.42-51
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• 2021

리튬/유황 전지 반응에서 리튬-폴리설파이드(Lithium polysulfide)는 사이클이 반복될수록 전해액에 해리되어 전지 수명을 저하시키는 큰 원인으로 작용한다. 액체 상태인 리튬-폴리설파이드가 전해액에 용해되지 않도록 유황을 담지하고 리튬-폴리설파이드의 흡착을 유도, 추가로 전도도까지 높일 수 있는 비표면적이 큰 다공성 탄소를 모색했다. 본 논문에서는 비표면적이 큰 다공성 탄소 구체를 얻기 위해 추가로 KOH 처리를 통해 1939 m²/g의 탄소 구체를 2200 m²/g으로 높였다. 또한, 유황과의 열처리를 통해 75wt%의 유황이 함유된 탄소 유황 화합물을 만들어 양극재료 사용가능성에 대한 물질 분석을 진행했다. Reference (622; 유황: 60%, 도전재: 20%, 바인더: 20%) 파우치 셀과 75 wt%의 탄소 유황 화합물을 이용하여 만든 파우치 셀의 전기화학적 특성 분석을 진행하였다. 이는 50 사이클 기준으로 Reference 대비 20%의 수명 증가와 10%의율 특성 향상을 보였다.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2024

본 연구에서는 유황의 절연 특성 및 리튬 폴리 설파이드 용출로 인해 전지 수명 저하를 최소화하기 위해 ZIF67/rGO를 사용하였다. rGO로 포장이 된 ZIF67는 탄소 스펀지 내에 공간을 더 많이 만들어주며, 다량의 유황을 보관할 수 있다. 유황@ZIF67/rGO 복합체를 합성하고, 스펀지 형태로 제조함으로써 유황의 담지 능력을 향상시켰다. 그 결과로서 높은 초기용량을 보였으며, 약 1093 mAh g^-1의 값을 나타내며 100사이클 후에 84%의 용량유지율을 보임을 확인하였다. 코발트와 탄소의 복합화를 통하여 유황과의 상호작용이 높아 ZIF67/rGO는 리튬유황전지의 양극 활물질인 유황을 담지하는 담지체로서의 높은 성능을 나타남을 확인하였으며, 높은 초기용량과 용량유지율이 개선되었음을 확인하였다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.483-489
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• 2017

The loss of the sulfur cathode material through dissolution of the polysulfide into electrolyte causes a significant capacity reduction of the lithium-sulfur cell during the charge-discharge reaction, thereby debilitating the electrochemical performance of the cell. We addressed this problem by using a chemical and physical approach called reduction of polysulfide dissolution through direct coating functional inorganic (graphene oxide) or organic layer (polyethylene oxide) on electrode, since the deposition of external functional layer can chemically interact with polysulfide and physically prevent the leakage of lithium polysulfide out of the electrode. Through this approach, we obtained a composite electrode for a lithium-sulfur battery (sulfur: 60%) coated with uniform and thin external functional layers where the thin external layer was coated on the electrode by solution coating and drying by a subsequent heat treatment at low temperature (${\sim}80^{\circ}C$). The external functional layer, such as inorganic or organic layer, not only alleviates the dissolution of the polysulfide electrolyte during the charging/discharging through physical layer formation, but also makes a chemical interaction between the polysulfide and the functional layer. As-formed lithium-sulfur battery exhibits stable cycling electrochemical performance during charging and discharging at a reversible capacity of 700~1187 mAh/g at 0.1 C (1 C = 1675 mA/g) for 30 cycles or more.