A Small Electrolyte Drop Enables a Disruptive Semisolid High-Energy Sulfur Battery Cell Design via an Argyrodite-Based Sulfur Cathode in Combination with a Metallic Lithium Anode

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sebastian Kirchhoff - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Magdalena Fiedler - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Arthur Dupuy - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Paul Härtel - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Maria Semmler - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Felix Hippauf - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Susanne Dörfler - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Benjamin Schumm - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Thomas Abendroth - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Holger Althues - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Stefan Kaskel - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur batteries with liquid electrolytes are discussed as the most promising post-lithium-ion-battery technology in literature due to their high theoretical specific energy and first prototype cells delivering >470 Wh kg−1. Although several electrolyte and material concepts are developed that partially solve the issue of the so-called shuttle mechanism, the most promising concept to genuinely confine sulfur species in the cathode is all-solid-state argyrodite–sulfur cathodes leading to almost theoretical active material utilization by maintaining reasonable sulfur loadings and electrolyte to sulfur ratios. However, this battery concept has so far not achieved reversible cycling against metallic lithium anodes as it requires high pressures for manufacturing, and ductile lithium metal creeps along the grain boundaries of the solid electrolyte particles leading to short cuts of the cells. Recent findings show that metallic lithium, however, can be stably cycled with dimethoxyethane/lithium-bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (DME/LiFSI)-based electrolytes. Herein, for the first time, a semisolid concept is presented combining the benefits of an argyrodite-based solid-state cathode and a DME/LiFSI/hydrofluoroether-based anolyte concept – in coin cells and first pouch cells. This disruptive approach enables projected specific energies higher than 600 Wh kg−1 at cell stack level.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2402204
Number of pages11
JournalAdvanced energy materials
Volume(2024)
Early online date5 Aug 2024
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 5 Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • argyrodites, hydrofluorethers, lithium–sulfur batteries, pouch cells, semisolid concepts