Yufei
Zhang‡
,
Xinhang
Liu‡
,
Qi
Jin
,
Chi
Zhang
,
Fengfeng
Han
,
Yang
Zhao
,
Lirong
Zhang
,
Lili
Wu
* and
Xitian
Zhang
*
Key Laboratory for Photonic and Electronic Bandgap Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, PR China. E-mail: wll790107@hotmail.com; xtzhangzhang@hotmail.com
First published on 1st November 2024
Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are recognized as an encouraging alternative for future power storage technologies. However, their practical application is hindered by several significant challenges, including slow redox kinetics, the shuttle effect, and the formation of lithium dendrites. Here a binder-free, self-supporting multifunctional interlayer composed of lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) with amorphous carbon nanofiber matrices for Li–S batteries has been constructed. This multifunctional interlayer has been designed to facilitate the redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), promote the nucleation of lithium sulfide (Li2S), and hinder the formation of lithium dendrites. The electrocatalytic properties of the interlayer were subjected to systematic evaluation through electrochemical testing, and the lithium deposition was assessed by examining the surface evolution of lithium metal in symmetric cells. The LLTO carbon matrix interlayer sustained a high specific capacity of 703.3 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.1C, with a sulfur loading of 5.5 mg cm−2. Furthermore, it demonstrated a high capacity of 905.9 mA h g−1 with a decay rate of 0.069% per cycle over 1000 cycles at a current density of 5C with a sulfur loading of 1 mg cm−2. This investigation highlights the potential of LLTO carbon composite materials as multifunctional interlayers, which could facilitate the optimization of advanced Li–S batteries.
LLTO has received considerable attention due to its noteworthy ionic conductivity and thermal stability, which make it an attractive option as a solid electrolyte in Li–metal batteries.23–26 Recently, LLTO has been used as a modified separator in Li–S batteries to provide a physical barrier, thereby alleviating the shuttle effect.27–30 Furthermore, LLTO composite materials could trap LiPSs through sulfiphilic interactions, thereby facilitating the adsorption and catalytic conversion of LiPSs. Additionally, the lithiophilic interfaces of LLTO facilitate the migration of Li ions and regulate Li deposition.31,32 Although significant progress has been made, it is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of the catalytic mechanism of LLTO–carbon composite materials as multifunctional interlayers. This understanding is crucial for optimizing their performance as effective boosters of the redox kinetics of LiPSs, promoters of Li2S nucleation, and inhibitors of lithium dendrite growth.
In this research, we developed amorphous carbon nanofiber matrices containing LLTO through an electrospinning method, followed by thermal treatment. These matrices were utilized as binder-free, self-supporting interlayers in Li–S batteries to facilitate enhanced sulfur redox reactions and overall performance. The synergistic effect of LLTO and the continuous structure of the amorphous carbon nanofiber matrices results in the effective immobilization of LiPSs, preventing their shuttling, and facilitating the redox interactions during charging and discharging. A comprehensive investigation was conducted into the underlying chemical anchoring mechanisms of LiPSs by the LLTO/C composite, the polysulfide conversion pathways, and the precipitation behavior of lithium sulfide (Li2S). The LLTO/C composite also exhibits a homogeneous electric field and uniform distribution of LLTO as lithiophilic sites within a three-dimensional structure, which facilitates the diffusion of Li ions and expands the uniformity of the Li-ion flux.33 This enhances the battery's long-term cycling stability. Consequently, the LLTO/C interlayer exhibits high capacity, outstanding rate performance, and extended cycling life at elevated current densities, marking a significant enhancement in Li–S battery performance.
The XRD pattern of the sample (Fig. 2k) shows that the distinct diffraction peaks align well with the crystalline phase of La0.55Li0.35TiO3 (JCPDS no. 46-465). Additionally, the peak at 23.32° indicates that amorphous carbon is found in the nanofibers. The surface area and porosity of the LLTO/C composite were determined using N2 adsorption/desorption as depicted in Fig. 2l and m, revealing a surface area of 25.2 m2 g−1. The available evidence indicates that the LLTO/C composite contains both micropores and mesopores. The micropores serve to impede the movement of lithium polysulfides, while the mesopores facilitate the diffusion of lithium ions.
Coin-type cells were fabricated using the LLTO/C interlayer and MWCNT modified separators (labeled as LLTO/C and MWCNT cells), together with a standard Li–S battery electrolyte and a lithium foil anode. Fig. 3a illustrates the galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) profiles of both LLTO/C and MWCNT cells, which exhibit two distinct discharge plateaus and a single charge plateau. The LLTO/C cell exhibits a lower polarization potential (140 mV) than the MWCNT cell (145 mV). In addition, as shown in Fig. 3b, during the oxidation of Li2S and the reduction of LiPS to Li2S, the LLTO/C cell exhibits a lower overpotential (16 mV for oxidation and 20 mV for reduction).
The QH designation represents the discharge capacity of the high-voltage plateaus, while the QL designation represents the discharge capacity of the low-voltage plateaus. The ratio of QH to QL is a quantitative measure of the electrocatalytic efficiency associated with the conversion of LiPSs. As depicted in Fig. 3c, the LLTO/C cell exhibits higher QH, QL, and a more favorable QL/QH ratio in comparison to the MWCNT cell, confirming its superior electrocatalytic capability. Additionally, the rate performance of the LLTO/C cell and the MWCNT cell was evaluated, as illustrated in Fig. 3d and S1.† The GCD profiles indicate that the LLTO/C cell maintains two distinct discharge plateaus up to a high rate of 7C. Conversely, the MWCNT cell shows an increased overpotential and diminished capacity, with distinct plateaus disappearing at a lower rate of 2C, which can be attributed to high surface energy barriers. Fig. 3e presents the rate performance of the LLTO/C cell across various C rates, ranging from 0.1 to 7C. The LLTO/C cell demonstrates high specific capacities, achieving 1431.0, 1256.2, 1157.0, 1077.7, 990.2, 944.0, 912.9, 899.6, 879.4, and 837.1 mA h g−1 at rates of 0.1 to 7C, respectively. Remarkably, when the rate reverted to 0.1C, the specific capacity was sustained at 1254.5 mA h g−1. In contrast, the MWCNT cell exhibits specific capacities of 975.9, 807.6, 655.9, 629.1, and 208.6 mA h g−1 at rates of 0.1 to 2C. Moreover, as shown in Fig. S2,† a comparative analysis of the polarization potentials based on the rate performance indicates that the LLTO/C cell shows a lower polarization potential, thereby evidencing its superior electrochemical performance.
To assess the cycling performance, both the LLTO/C and the MWCNT cells at a rate of 0.1C were tested by galvanostatic cycling, as shown in Fig. 3f. The LLTO/C cell shows an initial capacity of 1428.0 mA h g−1 and maintains a capacity of 1223.1 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles, outperforming the MWCNT cell, which shows an initial capacity of 1232.0 mA h g−1 and deteriorates to 835.8 mA h g−1 over the same number of cycles. As shown in Fig. S3,† it is noteworthy that the charge–discharge curves of the LLTO/C cell from the first to the 300th cycle at 0.1C show an excellent overlap with no significant polarization. Furthermore, the cycling stability of both the LLTO/C and MWCNT cells was assessed at a rate of 1C. As illustrated in Fig. 3g, the LLTO/C cell demonstrates an initial discharge capacity of 1228.3 mA h g−1. The capacity decay rate is 0.058% per cycle within 500 cycles. In comparison, the MWCNT cell exhibits an initial capacity of 868.7 mA h g−1 that is reduced to 431.8 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles, equating to a decay rate of 0.10% per cycle. The electrochemical performance of the LLTO/C interlayer significantly exceeds the majority of previously reported results, as shown in Fig. S4.† When compared to other approaches,40–43 the LLTO/C interlayer offers a superior cycling life with minimal capacity decay. The cell with the LLTO/C interlayer not only exhibits a considerably elevated capacity but also demonstrates a reduced capacity decay rate, indicating superior long-term cycling stability. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the LLTO/C interlayer resulted in improved performance.
One of the obstacles to commercializing Li–S batteries is the requirement for a substantial sulfur load to realize their application in actual devices. As shown in Fig. 3h, the cells with sulfur loadings of 4.1 mg cm−2 and 5.5 mg cm−2 on the cathode, incorporating an LLTO/C interlayer, have been fabricated. The cycling performances of these cells indicate that both configurations achieve high discharge capacities of 1029.9 and 808.2 mA h g−1, respectively, at a current density of 0.1C, alongside notable cycling stability. These results suggest that the LLTO/C interlayer holds promise for the practical application of Li–S batteries. Furthermore, the capacity retention at high current densities was evaluated, with results presented in Fig. 3i. The battery demonstrates an initial capacity of 905.9 mA h g−1 and exhibits a capacity decay rate of 0.069% per cycle following 1000 cycles at a current density of 5C. The GCD profile (Fig. S5†) demonstrates that the battery with an LLTO/C interlayer maintains its discharge plateaus even after 1000 cycles at a current density of 5C, indicating durable long-term performance.
The adsorption test of LLTO/C and MWCNT was conducted (Fig. 4a). The Li2S6 solution mixed with LLTO/C was colorless after 12 h. In contrast, the Li2S6 solution exhibits minimal change following the addition of MWCNTs, demonstrating that LLTO/C exhibits a markedly superior chemisorptive capacity for LiPSs in comparison to MWCNTs. To gain further insight into the chemical interactions between LLTO/C and LiPS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were conducted.
The obtained XPS survey spectrum as shown in Fig. 4b demonstrates the presence of four elements La, Li, Ti, and O, along with C that corresponded to the expected chemical composition.24 The high-resolution XPS spectrum of LLTO/C before contact with L2S6 (Fig. 4c) reveals the presence of Ti 2p peaks at 458.4 and 464.1 eV, which are assigned to Ti4+ 2p1/2 and Ti4+ 2p3/2, respectively.27 Additionally, all the other peaks observed within the 457.1, 462.9, 455.8, and 461.3 eV ranges are attributed to Ti3+ 2p and Ti2+ 2p, respectively.34 The presence of lower oxidation state species associated with oxygen vacancies can significantly improve the conductivity, thus enhancing its catalytic performance in the conversion of LiPSs. In comparison to the pristine LLTO/C, the Ti 2p peaks exhibit a shift towards a lower binding energy. Simultaneously, the concentration of Ti4+ and Ti3+ ions decreases (Fig. 4d), while Ti2+ increases, suggesting a strong correlation between Ti and S. It can be observed that the La 3d spectrum for LLTO/C (Fig. S6†) indicates the presence of two bonds of 3d3/2 and 3d5/2, positioned at 851.3 and 834.7 eV, which appear to be associated with La3+ valence. The La 3d peaks exhibit a shift towards lower binding energies when compared with pristine LLTO/C. This indicates that electrons are transferred from Li2S6 to the surface of LLTO/C. Furthermore, LLTO/C may function as an electrocatalyst, facilitating the conversion of Li2S6. In the pristine LLTO/C nanofiber, the O 1s spectrum (Fig. S7†) exhibits two peaks at 529.5 and 531.5 eV, which are attributed to O–Ti and Ti–OH, respectively.27 Following the absorption of Li2S6, a proportional increase was observed in the content of oxygen–hydrogen bonds. Potential explanations for this observation include the existence of the oxygen–hydrogen bond in oxygen-containing acid sulfate salts of sulfur.
Further investigation was conducted into the electrocatalytic conversion of LLTO/C to polysulfides using symmetrical cells containing Li2S6 electrolyte. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) profiles (Fig. 5a) reveal that the redox current response for the LLTO/C is stronger compared to that for the MWCNT symmetrical cell. All potentials in this work are measured relative to the Li+/Li reference electrode. This suggests that the LLTO/C may exhibit strong catalytic capabilities for the conversion of LiPSs, resulting in accelerated kinetics of the polysulfide reaction. The enhanced electrocatalytic capability of LLTO towards LiPSs and the enhanced electric conductivity resulting from the continuous carbon structure are the main factors contributing to the superior performance of LLTO/C.
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Fig. 5 (a) CV curves of symmetric cells. (b–d) Potentiostatic discharge profiles of Li2S6 solution at 2.05 V. |
Another crucial parameter for evaluating the electrocatalytic performance of cathode materials in Li–S batteries is Li2S precipitation. Consequently, potentiostatic discharge/charge profiles were obtained utilizing Li2S8 as the electrolyte. As illustrated in Fig. 5b–d, LLTO/C symmetric cells exhibit the minimal nucleation time and the maximal capacity for Li2S precipitation in comparison to MWCNT symmetric cells, indicating that the presence of LLTO/C markedly diminishes the surface energy barrier for Li2S nucleation and considerably accelerates the reduction kinetics for Li2S. The findings reveal that the LLTO/C composite effectively anchors LiPSs through robust physical and chemical adsorption and efficiently accelerates the conversion reactions of LiPSs.
To verify the catalytic activities within Li–S batteries, CV tests were carried out with coin cells including S cathodes, Li anodes, and interlayer/separators. Fig. 6a illustrates the oxidative and reductive behavior. The presence of two distinct reduction peaks can be attributed to the sequential conversion of S8 to Li2Sn (4 ≤ n ≤ 8) and subsequently to Li2S2/Li2S, respectively.35 The sustained oxidation peak indicates the reversal of the Li2S2/Li2S conversion to LiPSs and then S8, in alignment with the GCD profiles. The reduction/oxidation peaks of the LLTO/C cell shift towards high/low potential compared to peaks of the MWCNT cell. These findings suggest a significant reduction in electrochemical polarization, highlighting the LLTO/C composite's strong catalytic influence on the conversion of LiPSs and the acceleration of their redox kinetics. This observation aligns with the GCD curves.
To better understand the electrocatalytic properties of the LLTO/C interlayer, Tafel plots of the reduction (R1, R2) and oxidation (O1) peaks were obtained (Fig. 6b, c and S8†). The Tafel slopes for reduction (R1, R2) and oxidation (O1) peaks for LLTO/C are notably lower, indicating enhanced kinetics for the reduction reactions involving sulfur and the expedited oxidation of Li2S. Furthermore, Tafel slope analysis has been utilized to determine the activation energies for these reduction and oxidation processes. As depicted in Fig. 6d and S9,† the LLTO/C catalyst significantly reduces the reaction energy barrier by 67.67 kJ mol−1 compared to the MWCNT interlayer during the reduction of S8 to Li2S4. Moreover, the LLTO/C catalyst decreases the activation energy to 91.07 kJ mol−1 during the conversion of long-chain Li2S4 to short-chain Li2S2/Li2S. Additionally, for the oxidation process, which involves the rapid oxidation of deposited Li2S, the LLTO/C catalyst lowers the activation energy by 80.06 kJ mol−1, further demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing redox reactions.36
The assessment of lithium-ion diffusion rates is of value in evaluating the kinetics of redox reactions. The CV tests (Fig. 6e and S10†), conducted at scan rates ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 mV s−1, enabled this evaluation through the Randles–Sevcik equation.37 The diffusion coefficients of DLi+ for both LLTO/C and MWCNT cells were derived from the slope of the linear relationship between Ip and the square root of the scan rate (Fig. S11†).
The superior DLi+ values for the LLTO/C cell, compared to those of the MWCNT cell (Fig. 6f), indicate enhanced Li+ diffusion and sulfur redox reaction facilitation, thus improving Li–S batteries’ rate capability.
A Li‖Li symmetric cell test was conducted to evaluate the polarization effect. The results are presented in Fig. 7a. The Li symmetric cell with an MWCNT separator demonstrates a high overpotential of 62 mV. In contrast, the Li symmetric cell with the LLTO/C interlayer exhibits a lower overpotential of 26 mV. The rate performance of symmetric cells was also evaluated to investigate the overpotential across current densities ranging from 0.5 to 3 mA cm−2, as illustrated in Fig. 7b. As the current density increases, the symmetric cell with an LLTO/C interlayer consistently demonstrates a low overpotential. As illustrated in Fig. 7c and d, the symmetric cell with an MWCNT separator exhibits a notable rise in polarization voltage, potentially attributable to the proliferation of Li dendrites and the consumption of electrolytes.12 Conversely, the symmetric cell with an LLTO/C interlayer exhibits a consistent level of polarization voltage. This phenomenon is also observed at a current density of 1 mA cm−2, as shown in Fig. 7e. These findings indicate that the LLTO/C interlayer facilitates uniform Li stripping and plating. As illustrated in Fig. 7f, the LLTO/C interlayer ensures homogeneous Li-ion flux and prevents the growth of Li dendrites.38,39 After cycling, SEM analysis of the lithium anode surface reveals that lithium deposition on the anode for the MWCNT separator was scattered and irregularly distributed (Fig. 7g and h). In contrast, uniform deposition of Li metal was observed on the anode surface for the LLTO/C interlayer (Fig. 7i and j). This indicates that the LLTO/C interlayer can effectively redistribute lithium ions, regulating lithium deposition and ensuring that the Li–S battery has long cycling performance. The inherent high Li+ conductivity of LLTO ensures rapid migration of Li+ ions along the nanofiber surface. Meanwhile, the 3D structure serves as an accelerated Li+ transport medium. Consequently, this improvement in Li-ion transport and suppression of dendrite formation significantly enhances the cycling performance and stability of the Li–metal anode in the presence of the LLTO/C interlayer.
Footnotes |
† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4dt02429j |
‡ These authors contributed equally to this work. |
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