Nafion/Titanium Dioxide‐Coated Lithium Anode for Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have shown great potential as high energy-storage devices. However, the stability of the Li metal anode is still a major concern. This is due to the formation of lithium dendrites and severe side reactions with polysulfide intermediates. We herein develop an anode protection method by coating a Nafion/TiO composite layer on the Li anode to solve these problems. In this architecture, Nafion suppresses the growth of Li dendrites, protects the Li anode, and prevents side reactions between polysulfides and the Li anode. Moreover, doped TiO further improves the ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of the Nafion membrane. Li-S batteries with a Nafion/TiO -coated Li anode exhibit better cycling stability (776 mA h g after 100 cycles at 0.2 C, 1 C=1672 mA g ) and higher rate performance (787 mA h g at 2 C) than those with a pristine Li anode. This work provides an alternative way to construct stable Li anodes for high-performance Li-S batteries.

Anode Interface Engineering and Architecture Design for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

“…A cation‐selective Nafion/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer coating has been successfully developed to suppress polysulfide shuttling and dendrite growth . Niu and co‐workers further designed a composite layer containing Nafion and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) . The addition of TiO 2 substantially enhanced the Li‐ion conductivity and mechanical properties of the protective layer, which greatly improved the electrochemical performance of Li–S batteries.…”

Functionalized Cu‐MOF@CNT Hybrid: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Applicability in Supercapacitors

“…Owing to increase in engineering of commercial compact electronic devices, the demand for high energy storage in miniature form has increased enormously . In this regard, the electrochemical storage device such as supercapacitors are the most prominent candidate for highly efficient energy storage applications compared to fuel cell and lithium‐ion batteries, because of its high columbic efficiency, quick charge‐discharge process, outstanding environment friendliness, excellent cycling stability and reversibility, which can fulfill the demand for energy consumption and makes them superior to batteries having ordinary power density and cycle life span. To store the energy, supercapacitors exhibits electrical double layer capacitance (EDLC) and pseudo‐capacitance‐based charge storage mechanisms .…”

Li-containing alloys beneficial for stabilizing lithium anode: a review

“…Another disadvantage is that there still exist a substantial change in specific volume upon charging and discharging alloy electrode reactants, can lead to loss of electrical contact, and thus capacity loss [129]. In addition, the complexity and cost of preparing ternary/ multicomponent lithium alloys also need to be considered ii) Considering the substantial volume change exactly exists in lithium-containing alloys anodes, constructing nanostructures to host lithium alloy or preparing lithium alloy-based composites is also a good choice [130,131]. By encapsulating the lithium alloy into special nanostructures, i.e.…”

“…By encapsulating the lithium alloy into special nanostructures, i.e. 3D graphene [132], CNT [131], etc., or using polymers coating [25], the volume change of lithium alloy has been effectively eliminated, because of these nanostructured host or extra components, Li-containing alloy anodes will be more stable in the organic electrolyte and the lithium dendrite would also be effectively inhibited.…”