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Improving the performance of lithium–sulfur batteries using conductive polymer and micrometric sulfur powder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2014

Zhihui Wang ,
Yulin Chen ,
Vincent Battaglia  and
Gao Liu
Zhihui Wang
Affiliation:
Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
Yulin Chen
Affiliation:
Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
Vincent Battaglia
Affiliation:
Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
Gao Liu*
Affiliation:
Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: gliu@lbl.gov
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Abstract

In this study, a conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or PEDOT, was used as binder in the sulfur electrode to study electrochemical performance of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. PEDOT-based sulfur electrode was compared with that of polyvinylidene difluoride binder based sulfur electrode. Different particle size sulfur materials including commercial micrometric sulfur particles and synthesized colloidal nanometric sulfur powders were chosen as active materials to study the impact of particle size on the cell performance. Different electrolytes including lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide in polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether (PEGDME) or 1,3-dioxolane-dimethoxy ethane were used in the Li–S batteries to investigate the impact of electrolyte on cell performance. The PEDOT and micrometric sulfur based electrode with PEGDME electrolyte had the best cycle performance, which showed a capacity retention of 68% and specific capacity of 578 mAh/g after 100 cycles. The increased conductivity by conductive polymer and the high viscosity of PEGDME play important roles in the improvement of cycle performance.

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Type
Articles
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Journal of Materials Research , Volume 29 , Issue 9 , 14 May 2014 , pp. 1027 - 1033
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

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