Operando Radiography and Multimodal Analysis of Lithium-Sulfur Pouch Cells-Electrolyte Dependent Morphology Evolution at the Cathode

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Rafael Mueller - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • Ingo Manke - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • Andre Hilger - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • Nikolay Kardjilov - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • Tom Boenke - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I (Author)
  • Florian Reuter - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Susanne Doerfler - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Thomas Abendroth - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Paul Haertel - , 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)
  • Sebastian Risse - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)

Abstract

In recent years, the technology readiness level of next-generation lithium-sulfur (Li/S) batteries has shifted from coin cell to pouch cell dimensions. Promising optimizations of the electrodes, electrolytes, active materials, and additives lead to improved performance and cycling stability. However, new challenges arise with the pouch cell design and engineering (including electrode stacking and electrolyte filling), which influence the mechanistic processes of the cell. This study presents an unprecedented multimodal operando investigation of Li/S batteries on a pouch cell level and provides an inside view of material transformations during battery cycling, using X-ray radiography, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and spatially resolved temperature monitoring. With the comparison of two different electrolytes, new experimental details about sulfur and lithium sulfide deposition and dissolution processes are revealed and related to electrolyte and temperature distribution. Operando impedance measurements on monolayer pouch cells yield a clear correlation of electrochemical and macroscopic radiographic observations. Understanding the monolayer cells' behavior represents an optimal foundation for further studies on multilayer pouch cell prototypes and demonstrators with the developed operando setup. Herein the proof of principle for correlated measurement methods on pouch cell level is shown, and the experimental proof of concept for sulfur crystal suppression in sparingly solvating electrolyte is visualized.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2103432
Number of pages12
JournalAdvanced energy materials
Volume12
Issue number13
Early online date18 Feb 2022
Publication statusPublished - 7 Apr 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85124740847
Mendeley 37ffec5b-5dd7-3d84-9585-b16953159b83
unpaywall 10.1002/aenm.202103432

Keywords

Keywords

  • lithium sulfur batteries, multimodal operando analyses, X-ray imaging, impedance spectroscopy, pouch cells, sparingly solvating electrolytes, X-RAY-DIFFRACTION, LI-S BATTERIES, PERFORMANCE, CAPACITY, SHUTTLE, PRECIPITATION, MECHANISM