Selenium or Tellurium as Eutectic Accelerators for High-Performance Lithium/Sodium–Sulfur Batteries

Shuping Li; Wei Zhang; Ziqi Zeng; Shijie Cheng; Jia Xie

doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00072-5

Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2020, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (3) : 613 -642. DOI: 10.1007/s41918-020-00072-5

Review Article

Selenium or Tellurium as Eutectic Accelerators for High-Performance Lithium/Sodium–Sulfur Batteries

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¹State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, China

^e xiejia@hust.edu.cn

Shuping Li

received her Ph.D. in the School of Materials Science and Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She is currently working with Professor Shijie Chen as a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Her current research focuses on lithium–sulfur batteries.

Wei Zhang

received her Ph.D. in the Institute for Advanced Studies from Wuhan University. She is currently working with Professor Jia Xie as a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Her current research focuses on high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries.

Ziqi Zeng

received her Ph.D. at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Science, Wuhan University, in 2018. She is currently working with Professor Jia Xie as a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Her research interests focus on functional electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion battery, lithium metal batteries and lithium–sulfur batteries.

Shijie Cheng

received his Ph.D. from University of Calgary in 1986. He is now a professor at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. In 2007, he was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is currently engaged in research on energy-storage system for electric power system stability and advanced materials for electrical engineering.

Jia Xie

received his Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry from Stanford University. He is now a professor in Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He is the chief scientist of the National Key Basic Research Program (Youth 973 Program) “Basic Research on the Interfacial Challenges of High Energy Secondary Lithium-Sulfur Battery.” He was a Senior Researcher in Dow Chemical (USA) from 2008 to 2012 and the CTO of Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd from 2012 to 2015. His current research focus on advanced energy storage materials and devices.

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Abstract

Abstract

Lithium (Li)/sodium (Na)–sulfur (S) batteries are considered to be competitive candidates for the next-generation energy storage devices due to ultrahigh theoretical energy densities and potential low costs. However, the insulating nature of S and dissolution of intermediate polysulfides hinder the development. Here, the use of selenium (Se) or tellurium (Te) as eutectic accelerators in S cathodes can significantly improve the performances. Se and Te can not only be easily introduced into S to form uniform dispersions at the molecular level through S–Se or S–Te bonds and contribute to capacity through their inherent redox reactions, but also significantly accelerate reaction kinetics and alleviate polysulfide dissolution to achieve excellent battery performances. Even for solid-state conversion mechanisms or in all-solid-state batteries, Se or Te can enhance the electronic and ionic conductivities to result in better rate and cycling performances. Overall, Se or Te modified S cathodes possess good compatibility with both Li and Na anode materials and can exhibit excellent electrochemical performances. Therefore, the use of Se or Te as eutectic accelerators in S cathodes is a universal and effective strategy to enhance battery performances and obtain better Li/Na–S batteries.

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Shuping Li, Wei Zhang, Ziqi Zeng, Shijie Cheng, Jia Xie. Selenium or Tellurium as Eutectic Accelerators for High-Performance Lithium/Sodium–Sulfur Batteries. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2020, 3(3): 613-642 DOI:10.1007/s41918-020-00072-5