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Lithium-sulphur batteries based on biological 3D structures

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Abstract

Lithium-sulphur accumulators are, thanks to their high theoretical energy density and good availability of sulphur, one of the most promising concepts of the new generation of accumulators. In this paper, we present a 3D structured cathode formed on a natural basis. A sea sponge Spongia officinalis served as a template for the electrode structure. This 3D electrode provides enough space for sulphur. Thus, it allows high sulphur loading. This electrode structure also immobilizes polysulphides inside the cathode and improves stability during cycling. The resultant new cathode configuration allows reaching very high sulphur area loading of 4.9 mg/cm2 which is almost four times more than in the case of a standard coated electrode. Despite the high sulphur loading, the electrode maintains high stability during cycling in comparison with a standard electrode and it also reaches much higher square capacity, exceeding 3.0 mAh/cm2.

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Acknowledgements

This research has been carried out in the Centre for Research and Utilization of Renewable Energy (CVVOZE).

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under NPU I programme (project no. LO1210).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Electronic Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Technická 10, 616 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    T. Kazda, P. Čudek, J. Vondrák, M. Sedlaříková, J. Tichý & O. Čech

  2. Iontech Systems AG, Auerstrasse 19, 9435, Heerbrugg, Switzerland

    M. Slávik

  3. Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Vienna, Getreidemarkt 9/164ec, A-1060, Vienna, Austria

    G. Fafilek

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  1. T. Kazda
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  2. P. Čudek
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  5. J. Tichý
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Correspondence to T. Kazda.

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Kazda, T., Čudek, P., Vondrák, J. et al. Lithium-sulphur batteries based on biological 3D structures. J Solid State Electrochem 22, 537–546 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3791-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3791-0

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