Plasma and magnetron sputtering constructed dual-functional polysulfides barrier separator for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Yaochen Song; Xiongbang Wei; Ziqi Zhao; Yilin Yao; Linnan Bi; Yuhong Qiu; Xin Long; Zhi Chen; Sizhe Wang; Jiaxuan Liao

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.01.077

Plasma and magnetron sputtering constructed dual-functional polysulfides barrier separator for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2022 May:613:636-643. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.01.077. Epub 2022 Jan 15.

Authors

Yaochen Song¹, Xiongbang Wei¹, Ziqi Zhao², Yilin Yao³, Linnan Bi¹, Yuhong Qiu¹, Xin Long¹, Zhi Chen¹, Sizhe Wang⁴, Jiaxuan Liao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Yangtze Delta Region Institute (QuZhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 324000, PR China; School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China.
² School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China.
³ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China.
⁴ Yangtze Delta Region Institute (QuZhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 324000, PR China; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China. Electronic address: kevinwang@sust.edu.cn.
⁵ Yangtze Delta Region Institute (QuZhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 324000, PR China; School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China. Electronic address: jxliao@uestc.edu.cn.

PMID: 35065437
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.01.077

Abstract

In order to fundamentally suppress the shuttle effect, N₂ Plasma & Al₂O₃ magnetron sputtered separators (Al₂O₃@N-PP) are proposed for lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Such a dual-functional polysulfides (LiPSs) barrier separator greatly inhibits the shuttle effect from the perspective of physical and chemical interaction. Physically, the inherently electronegative amorphous Al₂O₃ first achieves the repulsion of LiPSs to the sulfur cathode through the electrostatic repulsive effect, effectively preventing a large amount of soluble LiPSs from accumulating at the separator. At the same time, the Al₂O₃ film seals the shuttle channel of LiPSs to a certain extent. Chemically, N₂ plasma-doped N heteroatoms form a lithium bond with Li⁺ in LiPSs to achieve the first step chemical adsorption and anchoring of LiPSs. When the LiPSs reaches the amorphous Al₂O₃ film, more stable chemical bonds are formed between Al³⁺ and S^2-, Li⁺ and O^2- to achieve more effective adsorption and anchoring of LiPSs. At 1C with a high sulfur loading up to 3-5 mg cm^-2 the LSB contributes a specific charge capacity of 717.4 mAh g^-1, with high retention rate up to 75.49 % after 450 cycles. The U-shaped electrolytic cell experiment and ultraviolet-visible spectrum experiment confirmed the LiPSs barrier function of the functional separator.

Keywords: Magnetron sputtering; Plasma; Polysulfides barrier; Shuttle effect.