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This paper presents atomistic molecular dynamics simulation studies of lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonylimide (LiTFSI) in a blend of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIm)-TFSI and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which is a promising electrolyte material for Li- and Li-ion batteries. Simulations of 100 ns were performed for temperatures between 303 K and 423 K, for a Li:ether oxygen ratio of 1:16, and for PEO chains with 26 EO repeating units. Li(+) coordination and transportation were studied in the ternary electrolyte system, i.e., PEO16LiTFSI⋅1.0 EMImTFSI, by applying three different force field models and are here compared to relevant simulation and experimental data. The force fields generated significantly different results, where a scaled charge model displayed the most reasonable comparisons with previous work and overall consistency. It is generally seen that the Li cations are primarily coordinated to polymer chains and less coupled to TFSI anion. The addition of EMImTFSI in the electrolyte system enhances Li diffusion, associated to the enhanced TFSI dynamics observed when increasing the overall TFSI anion concentration in the polymer matrix.

In this work, the influence of cathode binders on the porosity of composite electrodes for lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries employing high surface area carbon blacks has been closely scrutinized. This has been accomplished by comparison of PVdF with the related copolymer, PVdF-HFP. Analysis of carbon black porosity after addition of binder in NMP solution reveals that PVdF(-HFP) fills pores of almost any size in carbon black, which can effect a severe reduction in pore volume and surface area accessible to the electrolyte in a Li−S cell. Noting the different swelling behavior of both binders, the implications of pore filling by the binder on the electrochemistry of Li−S cells can be determined. Because of the low swellability of PVdF in dimethoxyethane:dioxolane (DME:DOL)-based electrolytes, access of the electrolyte to the carbon surface area and pore volume is restricted, with potentially severe detrimental effects on the available capacity of the cell. Furthermore, this effect is still clearly significant for common binder loadings and with preinfiltration of sulfur; this study is therefore a clear demonstration that PVdF is an unsuitable choice of binder for the lithium−sulfur system and that alternatives must be considered.

PEO, used either as a binder or a polymer coating, and PEGDME, used as an electrolyte additive, are shown to increase the reversible capacity of Li-S cells. The effect, in all three cases, is the same: an improved solvent system for the electrochemistry of sulfur species and suppression of cathode passivation on discharge. This constitutes a novel interpretation of the mechanistic behaviour of polyethers in the Li-S system, and sheds new light upon several previous studies.

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