Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is regarded as one of the most promising high-capacity rechargeable batteries. However, wide deployment of Li-S batteries is still hindered by a number of technological challenges such as low specific energy and low cycle life. There also are other critical issues, although less discussed and investigated in academia, such as shelf life and safety hazards of Li-S batteries. All of these challenges are dictated by the interplay of the Li anode, sulfur cathode and electrolyte in the battery. It is necessary to have high areal loading of sulfur with high specific capacity, however, which cannot guarantee high specific energy of the Li-S batteries without implementing low electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) mass ratio. Here, we study the cathode interfacial resistance under lean electrolyte condition with modified GITT and real-time EIS technique to reveal a critical problem which is challenging the low E/S ratio Li-S batteries. Such mechanistic understanding of the Li-S battery under lean electrolyte condition can provide guidance in developing high energy density Li-S battery.

Cathode interfacial resistance in lithium-sulfur batteries under lean electrolyte condition

2019 Fall National Meeting

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