Polymer-Sulfur Composite Materials for Electrodes In Li-S Energy Storage Devices

Patent ID: 8225 | Patent Number 9,929,429 | Status: Granted

Abstract

The high capacity Li/S battery with low cost and improved safety is one of the most promising technologies for the next generation of energy storage systems. However, its practical application has been plagued by a poor cycling ability caused by soluble polysulfide intermediates. Herein, a flexible interwoven sulfurized polyaniline (referred as SPANI hereafter) is designed to imbed sulfur in the form of S/SPANI composite. The soluble long chain polysulphides produced during repeated cycling are effectively constrained within the SPANI spatial network through both physical and chemical interactions. Even after 500 cycles a capacity retention rate of 68% is observed in the S/SPANI composite with a reversible capacity of around 600 mAh g-1. Compared with the conventional carbon matrix the framework of the elastic SPANI polymer functions very differently in that the volume of SPANI varies in the same pace as that of S addressing the dislocation issue of sulfur appropriately. The amine groups and/or imine groups decorated on SPANI surface further interacts or attracts the soluble polysulfides anions leading to the superior electrochemical performances. The attractive behavior exhibited by the SPANI/S composite not only underlies a new concept for designing sulfur-based electrode material but can be applied into many other different applications.

Application Number

13/561,701

Inventors

Exarhos,Gregory J
Schwenzer,Birgit
Cao,Yuliang
Nie,Zimin
Xiao,Jie
Liu,Jun

Market Sector

Energy Storage