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Research Progress on Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 4732

Special Issue Editors

College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
Interests: Li-S battery, Li metal anode; Na/Zn-ion battery; supercapacitor; heterojunction; 3D nanostructure
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Interests: 3D micro-nano structure; Zn-ion battery; Li/Zn anode; Li-S battery; flexible energy storage
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243032, China
Interests: novel secondary batteries; Li/Na/Zn-based batteries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries have become one of the most competitive systems in the next generation of high-performance batteries due to their high theoretical capacity (~1672 mAh g-1) and energy density (~2600 Wh kg-1). However, Li-S batteries face two main problems that cannot be ignored. (1) The diffusion of soluble lithium polysulfide intermediates and the slow reaction kinetics lead to the rapid decline of the cycle capacity and unsatisfactory charging-discharging behavior of the battery. (2) The active lithium anode will produce undesirable deposition and stripping, which leads to a series of problems such as lithium dendrite, thus reducing the battery life and even bringing safety risks. Therefore, the research of Li-S batteries is of great practical significance. In recent years, a number of strategies have been developed to alleviate above problems. This Special Issue seeks original contributions on the preparation of anode and cathode materials, electrolyte/separator modification, and structural design of advanced Li-S batteries, aiming to effectively improve the electrochemical performance of cell. This special issue also focuses the latest research and advanced concept reviews of Li-S systems.

Dr. Pu Jun
Dr. Pan Xue
Dr. Lianbo Ma
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • compound sulfur cathode
  • lithium polysulfide catalysis
  • shuttle effect
  • lithium anode modification
  • design of electrolyte
  • structure optimization
  • theoretical calculation
  • advanced characterization

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3001 KiB  
Article
Rectangular Transition Metal-rTCNQ Organic Frameworks Enabling Polysulfide Anchoring and Fast Electrocatalytic Activity in Li-Sulfur Batteries: A Density Functional Theory Perspective
by Jie-Zhen Xia, Lu-Chao Zhao, Man-Hua Liao and Qi Wu
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2389; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052389 - 05 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615
Abstract
Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great development po-tential in the field of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. In this theoretical research work, we propose a novel 3d transition metals (TM)-embedded rectangular tetracyanoquinodimethane (TM-rTCNQ) as a potential high-performance sulfur host. The calculated results show [...] Read more.
Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great development po-tential in the field of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. In this theoretical research work, we propose a novel 3d transition metals (TM)-embedded rectangular tetracyanoquinodimethane (TM-rTCNQ) as a potential high-performance sulfur host. The calculated results show that all TM-rTCNQ structures have excellent structural stability and metallic properties. Through exploring different adsorption patterns, we discovered that TM-rTCNQ (TM = V, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co) monolayers possess moderate adsorption strength for all polysulfide species, which is mainly due to the existence of the TM-N4 active center in these frame systems. Especially for the non-synthesized V-rCTNQ, the theoretical calculation fully predicts that the material has the most suitable adsorption strength for polysul-fides, excellent charging-discharging reaction and Li-ion diffusion performance. Additionally, Mn-rTCNQ, which has been synthesized experimentally, is also suitable for further experimental con-firmation. These findings not only provide novel MOFs for promoting the commercialization of Li-S batteries, but also provide unique insights for fully understanding their catalytic reaction mecha-nism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Lithium–Sulfur Batteries)
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16 pages, 10693 KiB  
Article
Polyaniline-Coated Porous Vanadium Nitride Microrods for Enhanced Performance of a Lithium–Sulfur Battery
by Jingjie Lv, Haibo Ren, Ziyan Cheng, Sang Woo Joo and Jiarui Huang
Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1823; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041823 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1553
Abstract
To solve the slow kinetics of polysulfide conversion reaction in Li-S battery, many transition metal nitrides were developed for sulfur hosts. Herein, novel polyaniline-coated porous vanadium nitride (VN) microrods were synthesized via a calcination, washing and polyaniline-coating process, which served as sulfur host [...] Read more.
To solve the slow kinetics of polysulfide conversion reaction in Li-S battery, many transition metal nitrides were developed for sulfur hosts. Herein, novel polyaniline-coated porous vanadium nitride (VN) microrods were synthesized via a calcination, washing and polyaniline-coating process, which served as sulfur host for Li-S battery exhibited high electrochemical performance. The porous VN microrods with high specific surface area provided enough interspace to overcome the volume change of the cathode. The outer layer of polyaniline as a conductive shell enhanced the cathode conductivity, effectively blocked the shuttle effect of polysulfides, thus improving the cycling capacity of Li-S battery. The cathode exhibited an initial capacity of 1007 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and the reversible capacity remained at 735 mAh g−1 over 150 cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Lithium–Sulfur Batteries)
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11 pages, 2953 KiB  
Article
Multiple Effects of High Surface Area Hollow Nanospheres Assembled by Nickel Cobaltate Nanosheets on Soluble Lithium Polysulfides
by Jun Pu, Xiaomei Zhu, Jie Wang and Shaomeng Yu
Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041539 - 05 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1103
Abstract
Inhibiting the shuttle effect of soluble polysulfides and improving slow reaction kinetics are key factors for the future development of Li–S batteries. Herein, edelweiss shaped NiCo2O4 hollow nanospheres with a high surface area were prepared by a simple template method [...] Read more.
Inhibiting the shuttle effect of soluble polysulfides and improving slow reaction kinetics are key factors for the future development of Li–S batteries. Herein, edelweiss shaped NiCo2O4 hollow nanospheres with a high surface area were prepared by a simple template method to modify the separator to realize multiple physical constraints and strong chemical anchoring on the polysulfides. On one hand, the good electrolyte wettability of NiCo2O4 promoted the migration of Li-ions and greatly improved the dynamics. On the other hand, mesoporous NiCo2O4 nanomaterials provided many strong chemical binding sites for loading sulfur species. The hollow structure also provided a physical barrier to mitigate the sulfur species diffusion. Therefore, the modified separator realized multiple physical constraints and strong chemical anchoring on sulfur species. As a result, the sulfur cathode based on this composite separator showed significantly enhanced electrochemical performance. Even at 4 C, a high capacity of 505 mAh g−1 was obtained, and about 80.6% could be retained after 300 cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Lithium–Sulfur Batteries)
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