Sulphur-impregnated flow cathode to enable high-energy-density lithium flow batteries

Hongning Chen, Qingli Zou, Zhuojian Liang, Hao Liu, Quan Li and Yi-Chun Lu ()
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Hongning Chen: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Qingli Zou: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Zhuojian Liang: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hao Liu: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Quan Li: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Yi-Chun Lu: The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Redox flow batteries are promising technologies for large-scale electricity storage, but have been suffering from low energy density and low volumetric capacity. Here we report a flow cathode that exploits highly concentrated sulphur-impregnated carbon composite, to achieve a catholyte volumetric capacity 294 Ah l−1 with long cycle life (>100 cycles), high columbic efficiency (>90%, 100 cycles) and high energy efficiency (>80%, 100 cycles). The demonstrated catholyte volumetric capacity is five times higher than the all-vanadium flow batteries (60 Ah l−1) and 3–6 times higher than the demonstrated lithium-polysulphide approaches (50–117 Ah l−1). Pseudo-in situ impedance and microscopy characterizations reveal superior electrochemical and morphological reversibility of the sulphur redox reactions. Our approach of exploiting sulphur-impregnated carbon composite in the flow cathode creates effective interfaces between the insulating sulphur and conductive carbon-percolating network and offers a promising direction to develop high-energy-density flow batteries.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6877

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