Strategies toward the Improvement of Lithium Sulfur Battery Performance

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are one of the most alluring next-generation energy storage technologies. This device can produce high specific capacity and energy density by taking advantage of the conversion reaction between lithium and sulfur. Additionally, elemental sulfur is inexpensive, abundant, non-toxic, and safe for the environment. On the other hand, the main barriers impeding a commercial breakthrough are the insulating properties of sulfur, the lithium-polysulfide shuttle effect, and the volumetric variation upon charge and discharge, which contribute to early cell failure. As a result, during the past few decades, significant research efforts have been made to develop the components of LSB. Interlayers, composites, new electrolytes, nanostructured cathode materials, and a new cell design demonstrated to be valid approaches to limit the polysulfide shuttle effect thus improving the battery performance. The current work investigates various strategies to alleviate the LSB's shortcomings. Carbonaceous materials as sulfur hosts were studied. Two unique sulfur-carbon composites containing single-walled carbon nanohorns and double-walled carbon nanotubes, were produced as LSB electrodes using a straightforward and sustainable evaporation process to demonstrate their suitability as cathodic materials. Lithium sulfide was investigated as a starting active material for the production of LSBs cathodes. The lithium-sulfide-based electrode and a biowaste-based anode were tested together in a complete cell configuration. Additionally, the impact of various electrolyte compositions on battery behavior was assessed. Alternative electrolyte salts with various anion donicity were compared to the common LSBs electrolyte. Moreover, a simultaneous investigation of the effects of electrode composition and electrolyte formulation on cell outputs is being conducted using a Design of Experiment. This effective technique takes into account all the parameters having an effect on the system response resulting in a global information on the studied subject. The last section is an overview of the projects completed in association with the ZEISS Company and the Innovations-Institut für Nanotechnologie und korrelative Mikroskopie e.V. in Forchheim, Germany. A complete workflow for battery materials analyses with cutting-edge methodology is suggested in this frame.