Direct Intermediate Regulation Enabled by Sulfur Containers in Working Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Polysulfide intermediates (PSs), the liquid-phase species of active materials in lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries, connect the electrochemical reactions between insulative solid sulfur and lithium sulfide and are key to full exertion of the high-energy-density Li-S system. Herein, the concept of sulfur container additives is proposed for the direct modification on the PSs species. By reversible storage and release of the sulfur species, the container molecule converts small PSs into large organosulfur species. The prototype di(tri)sulfide-polyethylene glycol sulfur container is highly efficient in the reversible PS transformation to multiply affect electrochemical behaviors of sulfur cathodes in terms of liquid-species clustering, reaction kinetics, and solid deposition. The stability and capacity of Li-S cells was thereby enhanced. The sulfur container is a strategy to directly modify PSs, enlightening the precise regulation on Li-S batteries and multi-phase electrochemical systems.     

电沉积n—CdSe在多硫溶液界面上的电荷转移机理

通过测定平带电位,澄清了OH~-离子在CdSe电极上的吸附情况,发现在S、S~(2-)、OH~-溶液中S~(2-)离子优先吸附,结合旋转环盘电极测量,证明n-CdSe电极在多硫溶液界面上的电荷转移过程。     

Polymerization of Methylene Dichloride and Sodium Tetrasulfide: Synthesis and Kinetic Studies

The kinetics of the condensation polymerization of a novel polysulfide polymer based on methylene dichloride and sodium tetrasulfide is studied. The results of the experiments indicated that the reaction order is two. The activation energy obtained from the Arrhenius plot is 1.879 kcal mol^?1, and the pre-exponential frequency factor is A = 27.11 min^?1 at temperature range of 40～60°C. The polymer is characterized by using Fourier transform-infrared and CHN analysis. Thermal properties were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry. The TGA-DTA was used to find out the thermal stability of polymer. The solvent resistance of the polymer was investigated by the swelling method.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Electrochemical Phase Evolution of Metal-Based Pre-Catalysts for High-Rate Polysulfide Conversion

In situ evolution of electrocatalysts is of paramount importance in defining catalytic reactions. Catalysts for aprotic electrochemistry such as lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries are the cornerstone to enhance intrinsically sluggish reaction kinetics but the true active phases are often controversial. Herein, we reveal the electrochemical phase evolution of metal-based pre-catalysts (Co₄N) in working Li-S batteries that renders highly active electrocatalysts (CoS_x). Electrochemical cycling induces the transformation from single-crystalline Co₄N to polycrystalline CoS_x that are rich in active sites. This transformation propels all-phase polysulfide-involving reactions. Consequently, Co₄N enables stable operation of high-rate (10 C, 16.7 mA cm⁻²) and electrolyte-starved (4.7 μL mg_S⁻¹) Li-S batteries. The general concept of electrochemically induced sulfurization is verified by thermodynamic energetics for most of low-valence metal compounds.     

Kinetic study of polysulfide‐acrylate click reaction by DEA and DMA

The curing process of a polysulfide (PSF) with a triacrylate crosslinker in the presence of an amine catalyst at room temperature is a rapid Michael addition. This reaction was monitored by real‐time infrared spectrum (RTIR). The results of the RTIR show that the consumptions of thiol and acrylate are stoichiometric until 80% conversion, indicating the characteristics of a “click” reaction. Dielectric analyzer (DEA) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) were employed to investigate the curing kinetics from which the activation energies of this curing reaction were obtained and shown to correlate with each other. In addition, the influences of the types and amount of amine catalyst, the different molecular weights of PSFs, and the triacrylate crosslinkers were discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of polymers in aqueous solutions: Synthesis of polysulfide by reaction of bis(4‐mercaptophenyl) sulfide with bis(4‐chloro‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone using various bases in aqueous solutions

The polycondensation of bis(4‐mercaptophenyl) sulfide (BMPS) with bis(4‐chloro‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone (BCNPS) was examined using various organic or inorganic bases in mixed solvents of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) with water or in plain water. The reaction of BMPS with BCNPS proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding polysulfide in mixed solvents of NMP with water at 60 °C using 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene‐7 as a base, although the rate of the reaction decreased gradually as the water in the solvent increased. Polysulfide can also be obtained by reaction in plain water using appropriate organic bases such as tripropylamine (TPA) or quinoline. The polysulfide with a number‐average molecular weight of 45,100 was synthesized in 62% yield when the reaction of BMPS with BCNPS was performed using TPA as a base at 60 °C for 48 h in plain water. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3399–3404, 2000     

中空碳双面修饰的隔膜在高性能锂硫电池中的应用

为减少多硫化锂(LIPs) “穿梭效应” 及锂枝晶对锂硫电池的影响,采用刮涂法制备中空碳材料修饰隔膜。接触角测试表明修饰隔膜对 LIPs具有更强的吸引力, 其对 LIPs “穿梭” 的有效抑制也可以通过渗透性实验进一步得到印证。在隔膜的正极对称电池测试中, 电流响应显示中空碳材料的催化使 LIPs快速转化为Li₂S。通过隔膜的负极对称电池测试发现修饰隔膜呈现出更稳定的电压-时间曲线。为证明隔膜修饰对锂硫电池性能改进的效果, 分别采用聚丙烯(PP)隔膜、单面改性和双面改性的 PP隔膜组装成纽扣电池并进行电化学测试, 其中电极材料的硫负载量为 1.8~2.0 mg·cm^-2。GITT(恒电流间歇滴定法)测试和锂离子扩散系数计算表明, 改性隔膜的离子传输更快且阻抗较小。通过分析第 1、5、10、50及 100次的充放电循环阻抗谱图发现, 中空碳材料的多通道能够为锂离子的传输提供更多的通道, 因此能够使锂离子具有更加稳定的扩散行为。在电流密度为 0.2 C时, 由双面改性隔膜组装的锂硫电池在首次充放电时有 1 035 mAh·g^-1的可逆比容量, 700圈后仍有 500 mAh·g^-1的高比容量,并在高硫负载时表现出 500 mAh·g^-1的可逆比容量。双面修饰隔膜赋予了锂硫电池优异的电化学性能, 这是由于中空碳材料的修饰加速了 LIPs的转化和吸附, 有效缓解了 LIPs的穿梭效应, 且对锂枝晶有很好的抑制作用, 提高了锂硫电池的安全性。     

多功能锂硫电池隔膜

锂硫电池具有远超锂离子电池的高理论比容量（1675 mAh ·g^-1）,并且兼具硫资源丰富、生产成本低廉以及环境友好等优势。然而,多硫离子的穿梭效应造成金属锂负极钝化、引起电池容量和库仑效率下降、循环稳定性变差等严重问题,限制锂硫电池的实际应用。从正极和负极之间的隔膜层出发,引入多硫离子穿梭的阻挡层被认为是极为有效的研究策略。这些研究策略在缓解多硫离子穿梭、提高活性物质利用效率、延长循环寿命和循环稳定性方面具有显著效果。本文分类综述了近年来锂硫电池隔膜功能化的研究进展,并对未来隔膜功能化的研究趋势进行了预测。     

中空碳双面修饰的隔膜在高性能锂硫电池中的应用

为减少多硫化锂(LIPs)“穿梭效应”及锂枝晶对锂硫电池的影响,采用刮涂法制备中空碳材料修饰隔膜。接触角测试表明修饰隔膜对LIPs具有更强的吸引力,其对LIPs“穿梭”的有效抑制也可以通过渗透性实验进一步得到印证。在隔膜的正极对称电池测试中,电流响应显示中空碳材料的催化使LIPs快速转化为Li₂S。通过隔膜的负极对称电池测试发现修饰隔膜呈现出更稳定的电压-时间曲线。为证明隔膜修饰对锂硫电池性能改进的效果,分别采用聚丙烯(PP)隔膜、单面改性和双面改性的PP隔膜组装成纽扣电池并进行电化学测试,其中电极材料的硫负载量为1.8~2.0 mg·cm^-2。GITT(恒电流间歇滴定法)测试和锂离子扩散系数计算表明,改性隔膜的离子传输更快且阻抗较小。通过分析第1、5、10、50及100次的充放电循环阻抗谱图发现,中空碳材料的多通道能够为锂离子的传输提供更多的通道,因此能够使锂离子具有更加稳定的扩散行为。在电流密度为0.2C时,由双面改性隔膜组装的锂硫电池在首次充放电时有1 035 mAh·g^-1的可逆比容量,700圈后仍有500 mAh·g^-1的高比容量,并在高硫负载时表现出500 mAh·g^-1的可逆比容量。双面修饰隔膜赋予了锂硫电池优异的电化学性能,这是由于中空碳材料的修饰加速了LIPs的转化和吸附,有效缓解了LIPs的穿梭效应,且对锂枝晶有很好的抑制作用,提高了锂硫电池的安全性。