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Download fileA Nanophase-Separated, Quasi-Solid-State Polymeric Single-Ion Conductor: Polysulfide Exclusion for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
journal contribution
posted on 2017-04-28, 00:00 authored by Jinhong Lee, Jongchan Song, Hongkyung Lee, Hyungjun Noh, Yun-Jung Kim, Sung Hyun Kwon, Seung
Geol Lee, Hee-Tak KimFormation of soluble polysulfide
(PS), which is a key feature of
lithium sulfur (Li–S) batteries, provides a fast redox kinetic
based on a liquid–solid mechanism; however, it imposes the
critical problem of PS shuttle. Here, we address the dilemma by exploiting
a solvent-swollen polymeric single-ion conductor (SPSIC) as the electrolyte
medium of the Li–S battery. The SPSIC consisting of a polymeric
single-ion conductor and lithium salt-free organic solvents provides
Li ion hopping by forming a nanoscale conducting channel and suppresses
PS shuttle according to the Donnan exclusion principle when being
employed for Li–S batteries. The organic solvents at the interface
of the sulfur/carbon composite and SPSIC eliminate the poor interfacial
contact and function as a soluble PS reservoir for maintaining the
liquid–solid mechanism. Furthermore, the quasi-solid-state
SPSIC allows the fabrication of a bipolar-type stack, which promises
the realization of a high-voltage and energy-dense Li–S battery.