Advanced sulfur cathode with polymer gel coating absorbing ionic liquid-containing electrolyte

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Novel gel coating consisting of a multifunctional polymer composite membrane as skeleton and an ionic liquid (IL)-containing electrolyte as plasticizer was introduced on the top of sulfur cathode. The effects of introduction of the IL on the basic properties of the electrolyte and gelatinous membrane and electrochemical performances of lithium sulfur battery were investigated. It is found that moderate amount of the IL is conducive to the improvement of ionic conductivity and dissolution restriction of polysulfides in the electrolyte. The composite membrane absorbing the IL-containing electrolyte for gelation sustains favorable porous architecture. As a result, the coated sulfur cathode with the IL modified electrolyte for building the surface gel coating exhibits increased reversible capacity, improved cycle stability, and rate capability, which is distinctly superior to the counterpart employing the pristine electrolyte without the IL.

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Funding

The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51704222 and 51604221).

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Affiliations

  1. School of Metallurgical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, 710055, People’s Republic of China

    Yan Yuan, Zhengqian Li, Xiuping Peng, Kesi Xue & Dongdong Zheng

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, 710054, People’s Republic of China

    Hai Lu

Authors
  1. Yan Yuan
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  2. Zhengqian Li
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  3. Xiuping Peng
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  4. Kesi Xue
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  5. Dongdong Zheng
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  6. Hai Lu
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Correspondence to Yan Yuan or Hai Lu.

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Yuan, Y., Li, Z., Peng, X. et al. Advanced sulfur cathode with polymer gel coating absorbing ionic liquid-containing electrolyte. J Solid State Electrochem (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-04917-x

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Keywords

  • Lithium sulfur battery
  • Gel coating
  • Ionic liquid
  • Polysulfide
  • Polymer membrane