Kinetics of Lithium-Polysulfide Flow Batteries

We recently demonstrated that the high solubility of polysulfides in nonaqueous electrolytes can be exploited to make a high energy density lithium-sulfur flow battery with low storage cost^1–3. Here we used a new approach, whereby percolating networks of nanoscale conductor particles (in this case carbon black) are incorporated within the electrode forming an embedded current collector which distributes electrochemical activity throughout the volume of the flow electrode, rather than being confined to the surfaces of stationary current collectors. Compared to the traditional approach, this architecture enables significantly higher capacity (~1200 mAh / g S) and reversibility by allowing cycling of polysulfide solutions (2.0-2.5V) into the precipitation regime (~2V), where discharge proceeds via precipitation of insoluble Li₂S, as shown in Figure 1.

The majority of the available capacity of this battery lies in this precipitation regime. Therefore, understanding the kinetics of the precipitation process is essential to improving the reversibility and rate capability of lithium-sulfur flow batteries. Here, we will discuss the nucleation and growth kinetics of the precipitates on various conductive substrates, including various carbon surfaces and conducting oxides. Moreover, we will discuss the effects of cycling conditions and substrate on the morphology of the precipitates, examples of which are shown in Figure 2. The precipitation of lithium sulfide has long been a challenge for lithium-sulfur batteries due to its low electronic conductivity^4,5, so controlling the morphology of precipitates can reduce losses due to Ohmic polarization.

For a given depth of discharge, higher electrode level energy densities (Wh/L) may be obtained by increasing the sulfur concentration in the polysulfide solution. However, as sulfur concentration—and therefore electrode capacity—increase, the current needed to cycle at a fixed C-Rate increases as well. Therefore, it is important to understand the concentration-dependent transport and kinetic properties of lithium polysulfide solutions so that the rate-limiting mechanisms may be appropriately addressed. We have undertaken a systematic effort to characterize the ionic conductivity and exchange current density of lithium polysulfide solutions in various solvents as a function of sulfur concentration and solution composition (i.e. n in Li₂S_n­). Figure 3 shows the concentration-dependent ionic conductivity of Li₂S₈ solutions in selected non-aqueous solvents.

 Acknowledgements:

This work was supported as part of the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, an Energy Innovation Hub funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences.

Figure captions:

Figure 1. Fivefold higher reversible capacity for the nanoscale conductor suspension (1.5 vol% carbon black) compared to a traditional carbon fiber current collector when galvanostatically cycling in a non-flowing cell with a lithium anode.

Figure 2. Scanning electron microscope image of lithium sulfide precipitates on a network of multi-walled carbon nanotubes after first discharge of a stationary lithium polysulfide cell at C/4 rate. On the circled nanotube, lithium sulfide particles merge together to form a conformal coating.

Figure 3. Ionic conductivity of lithium polysulfide solutions (Li₂S₈) in selected nonaqueous solvents at varying sulfur concentrations from 1-8M.

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