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Nanomaterials
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Emerging Nanomaterials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Beyond II
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Emerging Nanomaterials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Beyond II

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 11912

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Young-Si Jun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
Interests: energy storage; lithium ion batteries; photochemistry; nanomaterials; materials; graphene; nanoparticles; carbon; functionalization; nanotubes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Growing demands for electricity storage have triggered tremendous research efforts into rechargeable batteries. As a primary power source, batteries would supply power to emerging energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics. Among various battery technologies, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are at the forefront, meeting the tough requirements. LSBs, consisting of a metallic lithium anode and a chemically active sulfur cathode, have a high theoretical energy density of ~2600 Wh/kg. Moreover, the sulfur active material is environmentally benign, earth-abundant, and cheap ($0.02/g).

The practical application of LSBs is hampered by the intrinsic insulating property of active materials and the shuttle effect of soluble intermediates. In order to circumvent these technical challenges, innovative strategies have been employed in recent decades in almost all aspects of battery development, such as electrode, binder, separator, electrolyte, and cell configuration, where the materials in the nanometer-scale play vital roles in improving the electrochemical performance of LSBs by virtue of unique electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties. Such strategies significantly improve the utilization of sulfur and the cycle stability of LSBs, but only under certain conditions; for example, the areal sulfur loading is as low as ~2 mg sulfur/cm2 electrode, which forms a significant gap between the laboratory-scale cell tests and the practical ones.

The chronic problems of LSBs deepen further under the high-sulfur-loading condition (>6 mg sulfur/cm2), which is a crucial factor needed to compete with the current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. It is rather unclear how the high-sulfur-loading conditions affect the fundamental behaviors of the materials at a nanometer-scale in LSBs; thus, a more detailed insight is demanded. The present Special Issue will thus focus on the most recent advances in the development of materials at a nanometer-scale for LSBs, under high loading conditions. I warmly invite scholars to submit original research articles, letters, and critical reviews on novel nanomaterial-based electrodes, binders, separators, electrolytes, and cell configuration, which enable high-performance LSBs under high loading conditions.

Prof. Dr. Young-Si Jun
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Lithium-sulfur batteries
  • Nanostructure
  • Electrode
  • Separator
  • Electrolyte
  • Li-metal electrode
  • High sulfur loading
  • Cell configuration
  • Solid or polymer electrolyte
  • Manufacturing
  • Flexible

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 4127 KiB  
Article
Boron Nitride Nanotube-Based Separator for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
by Hong-Sik Kim, Hui-Ju Kang, Hongjin Lim, Hyun Jin Hwang, Jae-Woo Park, Tae-Gyu Lee, Sung Yong Cho, Se Gyu Jang and Young-Si Jun
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(1), 11; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12010011 - 21 Dec 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4532
Abstract
To prevent global warming, ESS development is in progress along with the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, the state-of-the-art technology, i.e., lithium-ion batteries, has reached its limitation, and thus the need for high-performance batteries with improved energy and power density [...] Read more.
To prevent global warming, ESS development is in progress along with the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, the state-of-the-art technology, i.e., lithium-ion batteries, has reached its limitation, and thus the need for high-performance batteries with improved energy and power density is increasing. Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are attracting enormous attention because of their high theoretical energy density. However, there are technical barriers to its commercialization such as the formation of dendrites on the anode and the shuttle effect of the cathode. To resolve these issues, a boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-based separator is developed. The BNNT is physically purified so that the purified BNNT (p−BNNT) has a homogeneous pore structure because of random stacking and partial charge on the surface due to the difference of electronegativity between B and N. Compared to the conventional polypropylene (PP) separator, the p−BNNT loaded PP separator prevents the dendrite formation on the Li metal anode, facilitates the ion transfer through the separator, and alleviates the shuttle effect at the cathode. With these effects, the p−BNNT loaded PP separators enable the LSB cells to achieve a specific capacity of 1429 mAh/g, and long-term stability over 200 cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanomaterials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Beyond II)
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12 pages, 2718 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Water-Processable Polyimide Binders with High Adhesion to Silicon Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Yujin So, Hyeon-Su Bae, Yi Young Kang, Ji Yun Chung, No Kyun Park, Jinsoo Kim, Hee-Tae Jung, Jong Chan Won, Myung-Hyun Ryou and Yun Ho Kim
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3164; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11123164 - 23 Nov 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3549
Abstract
Silicon is an attractive anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its natural abundance and excellent theoretical energy density. However, Si-based electrodes are difficult to commercialize because of their significant volume changes during lithiation that can result in mechanical damage. To overcome [...] Read more.
Silicon is an attractive anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its natural abundance and excellent theoretical energy density. However, Si-based electrodes are difficult to commercialize because of their significant volume changes during lithiation that can result in mechanical damage. To overcome this limitation, we synthesized an eco-friendly water-soluble polyimide (W-PI) precursor, poly(amic acid) salt (W-PAmAS), as a binder for Si anodes via a simple one-step process using water as a solvent. Using the W-PAmAS binder, a composite Si electrode was achieved by low-temperature processing at 150 °C. The adhesion between the electrode components was further enhanced by introducing 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid, which contains free carboxylic acid (–COOH) groups in the W-PAmAS backbone. The –COOH of the W-PI binder chemically interacts with the surface of Si nanoparticles (SiNPs) by forming ester bonds, which efficiently bond the SiNPs, even during severe volume changes. The Si anode with W-PI binder showed improved electrochemical performance with a high capacity of 2061 mAh g−1 and excellent cyclability of 1883 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 1200 mA g−1. Therefore, W-PI can be used as a highly effective polymeric binder in Si-based high-capacity LIBs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanomaterials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Beyond II)
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12 pages, 3624 KiB  
Article
Advanced Current Collectors with Carbon Nanofoams for Electrochemically Stable Lithium—Sulfur Cells
by Shu-Yu Chen and Sheng-Heng Chung
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2083; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11082083 - 17 Aug 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2315
Abstract
An inexpensive sulfur cathode with the highest possible charge storage capacity is attractive for the design of lithium-ion batteries with a high energy density and low cost. To promote existing lithium–sulfur battery technologies in the current energy storage market, it is critical to [...] Read more.
An inexpensive sulfur cathode with the highest possible charge storage capacity is attractive for the design of lithium-ion batteries with a high energy density and low cost. To promote existing lithium–sulfur battery technologies in the current energy storage market, it is critical to increase the electrochemical stability of the conversion-type sulfur cathode. Here, we present the adoption of a carbon nanofoam as an advanced current collector for the lithium–sulfur battery cathode. The carbon nanofoam has a conductive and tortuous network, which improves the conductivity of the sulfur cathode and reduces the loss of active material. The carbon nanofoam cathode thus enables the development of a high-loading sulfur cathode (4.8 mg cm−2) with a high discharge capacity that approaches 500 mA·h g−1 at the C/10 rate and an excellent cycle stability that achieves 90% capacity retention over 100 cycles. After adopting such an optimal cathode configuration, we superficially coat the carbon nanofoam with graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) to amplify the fast charge transfer and strong polysulfide-trapping capabilities, respectively. The highest charge storage capacity realized by the graphene-coated carbon nanofoam is 672 mA·h g−1 at the C/10 rate. The MoS2-coated carbon nanofoam features high electrochemical utilization attaining the high discharge capacity of 633 mA·h g−1 at the C/10 rate and stable cyclability featuring a capacity retention approaching 90%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanomaterials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Beyond II)
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10 pages, 1859 KiB  
Article
Nanoporosity of Carbon–Sulfur Nanocomposites toward the Lithium–Sulfur Battery Electrochemistry
by Chien-Hsun Yu, Yin-Ju Yen and Sheng-Heng Chung
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1518; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11061518 - 08 Jun 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3129
Abstract
An ideal high-loading carbon–sulfur nanocomposite would enable high-energy-density lithium–sulfur batteries to show high electrochemical utilization, stability, and rate capability. Therefore, in this paper, we investigate the effects of the nanoporosity of various porous conductive carbon substrates (e.g., nonporous, microporous, micro/mesoporous, and macroporous carbons) [...] Read more.
An ideal high-loading carbon–sulfur nanocomposite would enable high-energy-density lithium–sulfur batteries to show high electrochemical utilization, stability, and rate capability. Therefore, in this paper, we investigate the effects of the nanoporosity of various porous conductive carbon substrates (e.g., nonporous, microporous, micro/mesoporous, and macroporous carbons) on the electrochemical characteristics and cell performances of the resulting high-loading carbon–sulfur composite cathodes. The comparison analysis of this work demonstrates the importance of having high microporosity in the sulfur cathode substrate. The high-loading microporous carbon–sulfur cathode attains a high sulfur loading of 4 mg cm−2 and sulfur content of 80 wt% at a low electrolyte-to-sulfur ratio of 10 µL mg−1. The lithium–sulfur cell with the microporous carbon–sulfur cathode demonstrates excellent electrochemical performances, attaining a high discharge capacity approaching 1100 mA∙h g−1, a high-capacity retention of 75% after 100 cycles, and superior high-rate capability of C/20–C/3 with excellent reversibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanomaterials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries and Beyond II)
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