Controlling the polysulfide diffusion in lithium-sulfur batteries with a polymer membrane with intrinsic nanoporosity. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Xingwen; Feng, Sinan; Boyer, Mathew J.; Lee, Myungsuk; Ferrier, Robert C.; Lynd, Nathaniel A.; Hwang, Gyeong S.; Wang, Guibin; Swinnea, Steve; Manthiram, Arumugam
• Is Part Of: Materials today energy. Volume 7(2018)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 104
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Lithium-sulfur batteries -- Polymer membrane -- Nanoporosity -- Polysulfide shuttle -- Electrochemical performance -- Molecular dynamics simulation; Energy development -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Energy development; Energy industries; Energy policy; Power resources; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2018.01.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-6069

Abstract

Abstract: Polysulfide-shuttle has been a critical concern for the advancement of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Celgard membranes that are generally used in Li-S batteries exhibit a porous structure with a pore dimension generally on the micrometer scale. During cell operation, soluble lithium polysulfide species can easily migrate from the cathode through the porous separator and react with the lithium-metal anode. Such an unexpected chemical reaction induces a cascade of negative effects on the overall performance of Li-S batteries. Use of ion-selective membranes with reduced pore size provides a promising approach to suppress the migration of polysulfide species. In this study, a membrane based on a polymer with intrinsic nanoporosity (PIN) with a pore size of <1.0 nm is explored as a separator in Li-S batteries to mitigate the polysulfide-shuttle problem. The PIN membrane exhibits a unique structure with pore dimensions of less than 1.0 nm, which allows the transport of Li-ions, but effectively blocks the migration of dissolved polysulfides. As a result, the cycling performance of Li-S batteries is significantly improved. In addition to demonstrating a PIN-membrane Li-S battery, the structural characteristics of the PIN membrane have been characterized by a series of experimental methodologies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A polymer membrane with nanoporosity is explored as a separator in Li-S batteries. The membrane with a pore size of <1.0 nm suppresses polysulfide-shuttle. The membrane is characterized with both experimental and simulation methodologies.