Flexible sulfur wires (Flex-SWs)—A new versatile platform for lithium-sulfur batteries. (10th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hanumantha, Prashanth Jampani; Gattu, Bharat; Shanthi, Pavithra Murugavel; Damle, Sameer Satish; Basson, Ziev; Bandi, Ramalinga; Datta, Moni Kanchan; Park, Sungkyoo; Kumta, Prashant N.
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 212(2016)
• Page Start: 286
• Page End: 293
• Publication Date: 2016-09-10
• Subjects: Electrospinning -- Lithium-Sulfur -- Flexible electrodes -- Sulfur fibers -- Textile battery; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.06.130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Graphical abstract: A simple electrospinning methodology is described for generating novel fiber configurations of sulfur for use in lithium-sulfur batteries. Such flexible sulfur wire materials when converted into pellets of sulfur electrodes, exhibit very stable capacities over 135 cycles with high areal capacities (∼2.5 mAh/cm 2 ). Coating the electrodes with an inorganic lithium ion conductor coating results in electrodes exhibiting ∼650 mAh/g capacity and an impressive low fade rate of ∼0.003% fade/cycle. Highlights: Flexible sulfur wires (Flex-SW) generated using a simple electrospinning process. Areal capacities of of ∼2.75 mAh/cm 2 with excellent stability upto 135 cycles observed. Lithium ion conductor (LIC) coating on the Flex-SWs yield capacities of ∼620 mAh/g. LIC coated Flex-SWs exhibit exceptionally low fade rate of 0.003%/cycle. Abstract: A simple electrospinning methodology is described for generating novel fiber configurations of sulfur with the potential of yielding high performance sulfur electrodes for use in lithium-sulfur batteries. The unique fiber morphology derived by electrospinning has the capability of generating flexible sulfur yarns for the first time rendering them a highly attractive platform for small-scale mobile device applications such as textile-batteries. The electrospinning methodology reported herein also allows for the formation of a polymer-sulfur interface which acts as a physical barrier to liquid lithium electrolyte facilitating the reduction of polysulfide dissolution, a primary barrier to the progress of Li-S systems. Such flexible sulfur wire materials when converted into pellet sulfur electrodes, exhibit very stable capacities over 135 cycles with high areal capacities (∼2.5 mAh cm −2 ). Coating the electrodes with an inorganic lithium ion conductor coating results in further improvement of cycling behavior with electrodes of ∼650 mAh g −1 capacity and an impressive low fade rate of ∼0.003% fade cycle −1 demonstrating the promise of this unique platform.