A stable room-temperature sodium–sulfur battery

Shuya Wei, Shaomao Xu, Akanksha Agrawral, Snehashis Choudhury, Yingying Lu (), Zhengyuan Tu, Lin Ma and Lynden A. Archer ()
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Shuya Wei: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
Shaomao Xu: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
Akanksha Agrawral: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
Snehashis Choudhury: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
Yingying Lu: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University
Zhengyuan Tu: Cornell University
Lin Ma: Cornell University
Lynden A. Archer: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract High-energy rechargeable batteries based on earth-abundant materials are important for mobile and stationary storage technologies. Rechargeable sodium–sulfur batteries able to operate stably at room temperature are among the most sought-after platforms because such cells take advantage of a two-electron-redox process to achieve high storage capacity from inexpensive electrode materials. Here we report a room-temperature sodium–sulfur battery that uses a microporous carbon–sulfur composite cathode, and a liquid carbonate electrolyte containing the ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium-chlorate tethered to SiO2 nanoparticles. We show that these cells can cycle stably at a rate of 0.5 C (1 C=1675, mAh g−1) with 600 mAh g−1 reversible capacity and nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. By means of spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis, we find that the particles form a sodium-ion conductive film on the anode, which stabilizes deposition of sodium. We also find that sulfur remains interred in the carbon pores and undergo solid-state electrochemical reactions with sodium ions.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11722

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