Polysulfide Speciation in the Bulk Electrolyte of a Lithium Sulfur Battery. Issue 5 (23rd March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McBrayer, Josefine D.; Beechem, Thomas E.; Perdue, Brian R.; Apblett, Christopher A.; Garzon, Fernando H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 165:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: A876
• Page End: A881
• Publication Date: 2018-03-23
• Subjects: Lithium sulfur battery -- Polysulfide speciation -- Raman; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0441805jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : In situ Raman microscopy was used to study polysulfide speciation in the bulk ether electrolyte during the discharge and charge of a Li-S electrochemical cell to assess the complex interplay between chemical and electrochemical reactions in solution. During discharge, long chain polysulfides and the S3 − radical appear in the electrolyte at 2.4 V indicating a rapid equilibrium of the dissociation reaction to form S3 − . When charging, however, an increase in the concentration of all polysulfide species was observed. This highlights the importance of the electrolyte to sulfur ratio and suggests a loss in the useful sulfur inventory from the cathode to the electrolyte.