Abstract:
Rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become one of the most convenient options for advanced energy storage technologies, getting to dominate the battery market. Nevertheless, they cannot satisfy the ever increasing demand of energy density that is needed for both nowadays and future applications. Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries appear as an alternative, not only due to their excellent theoretical energy storage properties, but also because sulfur is naturally abundant, cost-effective and non-toxic.
However, Li-S batteries present drawbacks that hinder their potential application in the energy storage field. Low utilization of sulfur, poor cyclability and reduced coulombic efficiency are caused by polysulfides dissolution leading to the so called “shuttle effect”, which dreadfully affect the electrochemical performance of Li-S.
The main objective of this project lies in the development of novel electrode chemical compositions for lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries, looking for the formation of stable solid-electrolyte interfaces (SEI) that could ensure an extended cycling life for Li-S cells. Our approach is meant to be scalable, sustainable and cost-effective, trying to cause a real impact on the energy storage field by proving that it is possible to alleviate the inherent stability and safety drawbacks of Li-S batteries, even when standard materials or fabrication methods are employed.