Abstract
Concentrated lithium salt-monoglyme complex was used as an electrolyte candidate of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. It is found that the limited content of monoglyme suppresses the solubility and shuttle of polysulfides in the electrolyte. Then 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (TFTFE) was selected as a second solvent of the complex, and the effect of adding TFTFE on electrolyte properties and cell performances was investigated. The results indicate that the fluorinated ether further reduces the dissolution of polysulfides and improves the specific capacity and cycle stability of the cells. Certain polarization appears in the discharge stage if using excess TFTFE, but it is nearly harmless to the operation of the cell at higher rates. The combination of concentrated complex and fluorinated ether in the electrolyte is an effective approach to achieve excellent performance for Li-S batteries.
References
Goodenough JB (2013) Evolution of strategies for modern rechargeable batteries. Acc Chem Res 46:1053–1061
Lin Z, Liang C (2015) Lithium–sulfur batteries: from liquid to solid cells. J Mater Chem A 3:936–958
Li Y, Zhan H, Liu S, Huang K, Zhou Y (2010) Electrochemical properties of the soluble reduction products in rechargeable Li/S battery. J Power Sources 195:2945–2949
Bresser D, Passerini S, Scrosati B (2013) Recent progress and remaining challenges in sulfur-based lithium secondary batteries–a review. Chem Commun 49:10545–10562
Carbone L, Gobet M, Peng J, Devany M, Scrosati B, Greenbaum S, Hassoun J (2015) Comparative study of ether-based electrolytes for application in lithium-sulfur battery. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 7:13859–13865
Kim HS, Jeong T-G, Choi N-S, Kim Y-T (2013) The cycling performances of lithium–sulfur batteries in TEGDME/DOL containing LiNO3 additive. Ionics 19:1795–1802
Mandai T, Yoshida K, Ueno K, Dokko K, Watanabe M (2014) Criteria for solvate ionic liquids. Phys Chem Chem Phys 16:8761–8772
Dokko K, Tachikawa N, Yamauchi K, Tsuchiya M, Yamazaki A, Takashima E, Park JW, Ueno K, Seki S, Serizawa N, Watanabe M (2013) Solvate ionic liquid electrolyte for Li-S batteries. J Electrochem Soc 160:A1304–A1310
Zhang C, Yamazaki A, Murai J, Park J-W, Mandai T, Ueno K, Dokko K, Watanabe M (2014a) Chelate effects in glyme/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide solvate ionic liquids, part 2: importance of solvate-structure stability for electrolytes of lithium batteries. J Phys Chem C 118:17362–17373
Zhang C, Ueno K, Yamazaki A, Yoshida K, Moon H, Mandai T, Umebayashi Y, Dokko K, Watanabe M (2014b) Chelate effects in glyme/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide solvate ionic liquids. I. Stability of solvate cations and correlation with electrolyte properties. J Phys Chem B 118:5144–5153
Lu H, Yuan Y, Hou Z, Lai Y, Zhang K, Liu Y (2016) Solvate ionic liquid electrolyte with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether as a support solvent for advanced lithium–sulfur batteries. RSC Adv 6:18186–18190
Zhang SS (2013) Liquid electrolyte lithium/sulfur battery: fundamental chemistry, problems, and solutions. J Power Sources 231:153–162
Lu H, Yuan Y, Zhang K, Qin F, Lai Y, Liu Y (2015) Application of partially fluorinated ether for improving performance of lithium/sulfur batteries. J Electrochem Soc 162:A1460–A1465
Yoshida K, Nakamura M, Kazue Y, Tachikawa N, Tsuzuki S, Seki S, Dokko K, Watanabe M (2011) Oxidative-stability enhancement and charge transport mechanism in glyme-lithium salt equimolar complexes. J Am Chem Soc 133:13121–13129
Moon H, Mandai T, Tatara R, Ueno K, Yamazaki A, Yoshida K, Seki S, Dokko K, Watanabe M (2015) Solvent activity in electrolyte solutions controls electrochemical reactions in Li-ion and Li-sulfur batteries. J Phys Chem C 119:3957–3970
Park JW, Yamauchi K, Takashima E, Tachikawa N, Ueno K, Dokko K, Watanabe M (2013) Solvent effect of room temperature ionic liquids on electrochemical reactions in lithium–sulfur batteries. J Phys Chem C 117:4431–4440
Su YS, Fu Y, Cochell T, Manthiram A (2013) A strategic approach to recharging lithium-sulphur batteries for long cycle life. Nat Commun 4:2985
Cui X, Shan Z, Cui L, Tian J (2013) Enhanced electrochemical performance of sulfur/carbon nanocomposite material prepared via chemical deposition with a vacuum soaking step. Electrochim Acta 105:23–30
Qin F, Zhang K, Fang J, Lai Y, Li Q, Zhang Z, Li J (2014) High performance lithium sulfur batteries with a cassava-derived carbon sheet as a polysulfides inhibitor. New J Chem 38:4549–4554
Li Q, Zhang Z, Zhang K, Fang J, Lai Y, Li J (2014) A simple synthesis of hollow carbon nanofiber-sulfur composite via mixed-solvent process for lithium–sulfur batteries. J Power Sources 256:137–144
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.21204072).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lu, H., Yuan, Y., Yang, Q. et al. Concentrated lithium salt-monoglyme complex for restraining polysulfide dissolution and improving electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. Ionics 22, 997–1002 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1714-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1714-1