A highly efficient polysulfide mediator for lithium–sulfur batteries

Xiao Liang, Connor Hart, Quan Pang, Arnd Garsuch, Thomas Weiss and Linda F. Nazar ()
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Xiao Liang: University of Waterloo
Connor Hart: University of Waterloo
Quan Pang: University of Waterloo
Arnd Garsuch: BASF SE
Thomas Weiss: BASF SE
Linda F. Nazar: University of Waterloo

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The lithium–sulfur battery is receiving intense interest because its theoretical energy density exceeds that of lithium-ion batteries at much lower cost, but practical applications are still hindered by capacity decay caused by the polysulfide shuttle. Here we report a strategy to entrap polysulfides in the cathode that relies on a chemical process, whereby a host—manganese dioxide nanosheets serve as the prototype—reacts with initially formed lithium polysulfides to form surface-bound intermediates. These function as a redox shuttle to catenate and bind ‘higher’ polysulfides, and convert them on reduction to insoluble lithium sulfide via disproportionation. The sulfur/manganese dioxide nanosheet composite with 75 wt% sulfur exhibits a reversible capacity of 1,300 mA h g−1 at moderate rates and a fade rate over 2,000 cycles of 0.036%/cycle, among the best reported to date. We furthermore show that this mechanism extends to graphene oxide and suggest it can be employed more widely.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6682

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