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Using a Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Interlayer To Efficiently Anchor Polysulfides at High Mass Loading S‑Cathodes in Li–S Rechargeable Battery
journal contribution
posted on 2018-05-30, 00:00 authored by Subhra Gope, Aninda J. BhattacharyyaThe
bulk of the work related to a Li–S rechargeable battery revolves
around materials design strategies of a suitable carbon(/noncarbon)–host
matrix targeted toward the entrapment of sulfur and prevention of
leaching out of polysulfides into the electrolyte. This strategy,
however, limits the extent of sulfur loading and, depending on the
host, may simultaneously increase the unutilizable mass of sulfur
in the electrode. Recently, usage of interlayers between conventional
S|C composite cathode and separator has been demonstrated in Li–S
batteries. This interlayer, mostly carbon or doped carbon, has been
used to trap the polysulfides in between the interlayer and S-cathode.
Instead of carbon, we demonstrate here an alternative and novel interlayer
of metal oxide nanoparticles between cathode and separator to efficiently
trap and arrest the polysulfides at the S-cathode. Oxide-based compounds
exhibit a superior ability to hold the lower order polysulfides toward
the S-cathode by bonding interactions, thereby enhancing anode protection.
We employ pseudocapacitive metal oxides viz. Ni(OH)2 and
NiO as the interlayers for efficient anchoring of the polysulfide.
In the presence of the Ni(OH)2/NiO nanoparticle interlayer,
an alternative pathway for sulfur reduction and oxidation takes place
which simultaneously leads to a phenomenal reduction in the polysulfide
shuttle effect, even at extremely high loadings of sulfur (up to 15
mg cm–2). The beneficial role of the interlayers
in inhibiting the shuttle effect is studied via in depth ex situ UV–vis
and powder X-ray diffraction of the battery separator and the interlayer,
respectively, cycled at various depths of discharge and charge. The
conventional Li–S cell with S/C composite cathodes and metal
oxide interlayers exhibits a remarkable improvement in both cycliability
and rate capability (range: C/10–5C) vis à vis the cell
without any interlayer.
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powder X-ray diffractionalternative pathwayMetal Oxide Nanoparticle Interlayermetal oxide nanoparticlesshuttle effectpseudocapacitive metal oxides vizpolysulfide shuttle effectOxide-based compounds exhibitrate capabilitybattery separatorUVsulfur loadingsulfur reductionmetal oxide interlayers exhibitsLiorder polysulfidesEfficiently Anchor Polysulfidesunutilizable massanode protectionmaterials design strategiesnovel interlayer
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