This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
Researchers at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have unveiled a groundbreaking lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery that maintains functionality even after being cut in half or folded. This innovation is a response to safety and durability issues commonly associated with lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs), but they have notable drawbacks. They are prone to catching fire if damaged, and their lifespan is relatively short. In contrast, Li-S batteries are proposed as a promising alternative because they use common and inexpensive materials, and offer a higher energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries. Despite their advantages, the adoption of Li-S batteries has been limited by challenges such as short cycling life, poor performance at high rates, and safety concerns due to the use of lithium metal as an anode.
Professor Liping Wang, a leading researcher in material science and engineering at the University of Electronic Science and Technology, spearheaded a recent study aimed at overcoming these limitations. Traditional lithium-sulfur batteries face issues with stability and capacity loss due to the dissolution of sulfur into the electrolyte. To address this, Wang’s team experimented with various materials to enhance the battery’s stability and longevity. They found that polyacrylic acid (PAA) was particularly effective. Coating the cathode with PAA improved charge retention and helped maintain discharge capacity after 300 charge-discharge cycles, according to Interesting Engineering.
In their experiments, the team created pouch and coin cell prototypes with a PAA-coated iron sulfide cathode, a carbonate electrolyte, and a graphite-based anode. Remarkably, the pouch cell retained its functionality even when folded in half or cut, due to its robust conductive network. This feature is attributed to the battery’s design, which ensures that the conductive pathways remain intact despite physical damage.
After over 100 charge-discharge cycles, the pouch cell showed no significant decay, and after 300 cycles, the coin cell retained 72% of its original capacity. The superior performance of the pouch cell is likely due to its better mechanical integrity and lower resistance.
The research team is now exploring the application of this technology to other types of batteries, such as lithium-molybdenum and lithium-vanadium, as reported by Interesting Engineering. If proven feasible for commercial use, these advancements could significantly impact industries requiring high energy density and durability.
The paper was published in the journal ACS Energy Letters.
