Evaluation of Glyoxal-Based Electrolytes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sebastian Kirchhoff - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Christian Leibing - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Paul Härtel - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Thomas Abendroth - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Susanne Dörfler - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, 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)
  • Andrea Balducci - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)

Abstract

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are among the most promising next generation battery technologies. First prototype cells show higher specific energies than conventional Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and the active material is cost-effective and ubiquitously abundant. However, Li-S batteries still suffer from several limitations, mainly the cycle life, inflation of cells, and also the lack of a component production value chain. As this battery system is based on a complex conversion mechanism, the electrolyte plays a key role, not only for specific energy, but also for rate capability, cycle stability and costs. Herein, we report on electrolytes based on glyoxylic-acetal based solvents, Tetraethoxyglyoxal (TEG) and Tetramethoxyglyoxal (TMG). These solvents have been examined before for supercapacitors and LIBs, but never for LSBs, although they exhibit some beneficial properties, and the production value chain has already been well established as they are precursors for several chemicals. A specially adapted electrolyte composition is established by adjusting solvent ratio and LiTFSI concentration in a TXG:DOL solvent blend. The obtained electrolytes show long cycle life as well as high coulombic efficiencies without the use of LiNO3, a component leading normally to cell inflation and safety issues. In addition, a successful evaluation in a multilayer Li-S-pouch cell was performed. The electrolytes were thoroughly characterized, and their sulfur conversion mechanism is discussed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number210
Number of pages16
JournalBatteries
Volume9
Issue number4
Early online date31 Mar 2023
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

WOS 000977310700001

Keywords

Keywords

  • electrolyte, glyoxal, lithium-sulfur, polysulfide solubility, pouch cell, Electrolyte, Lithium-sulfur, Polysulfide solubility, Glyoxal, Pouch cell