Chemisorption of polysulfides through redox reactions with organic molecules for lithium–sulfur batteries

Ge Li, Xiaolei Wang, Min Ho Seo, Matthew Li, Lu Ma, Yifei Yuan, Tianpin Wu, Aiping Yu, Shun Wang (), Jun Lu () and Zhongwei Chen ()
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Ge Li: Wenzhou University, Wenzhou
Xiaolei Wang: University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Min Ho Seo: University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Matthew Li: University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Lu Ma: Argonne National Laboratory
Yifei Yuan: Argonne National Laboratory
Tianpin Wu: Argonne National Laboratory
Aiping Yu: University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Shun Wang: Wenzhou University, Wenzhou
Jun Lu: Argonne National Laboratory
Zhongwei Chen: University of Waterloo, Waterloo

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Lithium–sulfur battery possesses high energy density but suffers from severe capacity fading due to the dissolution of lithium polysulfides. Novel design and mechanisms to encapsulate lithium polysulfides are greatly desired by high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries towards practical applications. Herein, we report a strategy of utilizing anthraquinone, a natural abundant organic molecule, to suppress dissolution and diffusion of polysulfides species through redox reactions during cycling. The keto groups of anthraquinone play a critical role in forming strong Lewis acid-based chemical bonding. This mechanism leads to a long cycling stability of sulfur-based electrodes. With a high sulfur content of ~73%, a low capacity decay of 0.019% per cycle for 300 cycles and retention of 81.7% over 500 cycles at 0.5 C rate can be achieved. This finding and understanding paves an alternative avenue for the future design of sulfur–based cathodes toward the practical application of lithium–sulfur batteries.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03116-z

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