Invited Presentation: Li-S Batteries and Beyond Systems: Electrochemistry and Materials Design

There is no doubt that the pursuit of advanced energy storage devices with higher energy densities is critical for powering our future society.[1,2] Among the best candidates for next-generation high-energy-storage systems, alkali metal-chalcogen batteries, including Li-S, Li-Se, and Na-S systems hold high theoretical energy densities, making them especially attractive. Here, we report the recent progress in this field starting from Li-S batteries. We discuss the electrochemistry of Li-S batteries with different sulfur allotropies,[3] the recent advances in S cathodes, Li anodes, electrolytes, as well as the new designs of Li-S pouch cells (5~10 Ah).[4] Secondly, we report advanced selenium-carbon cathodes for rechargeable Li-Se batteries, as well as the selenium molecules evolution upon cycling.[5] Finally, through employing the confined chain-like sulfur molecules as the active cathode component for room-temperature Na-S batteries, a novel mechanism is proposed and verified for the batteries’ electrochemistry, which bringing a tripled specific capacity and an increased specific energy compared to traditional high-temperature Na-S batteries.[6]

References

[1] Y.-G. Guo, J.-S. Hu, L.-J. Wan, Adv. Mater. 2008, 20, 2878

[2] S. Xin, Y.-G. Guo, L.-J. Wan, Acc. Chem. Res. 2012, 45, 1759

[3] S. Xin, L. Gu, N. Zhao, Y. Yin, L. Zhou, Y.-G. Guo, L.-J. Wan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 18510

[4] Y. X. Yin, S. Xin, Y.-G. Guo, L.-J. Wan, Angew. Chem. Int. Edit. 2013, 52, 13186

[5] C.-P. Yang, S. Xin, Y.-X. Yin, H. Ye, J. Zhang, Y.-G. Guo, Angew. Chem. Int. Edit. 2013, 52, 8363

[6] S. Xin, Y.-X. Yin, Y.-G. Guo, L.-J. Wan, Adv. Mater. 2014, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201304126, in press