Lithium-Sulfur batteries for energy storage applications

NOHMs Technologies proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a novel Lithium-Sulfur chemistry for electrical energy storage that provides high charge and discharge rates, high cycle life, and high energy density. The proposed technology is based on innovative sulfur-infused carbon composite cathode materials (developed at Cornell University), which overcome the poor cycle life problems that have plagued Li-S batteries by encapsulating sulfur in mesoporous carbon hosts. The primary goal of Phase I project is to develop S@C composite cathodes that contain high sulfur loading (70%) and exhibit long cycle life (>1000 cycles). We propose to achieve this target using electronically conducting, optimal porous carbon hosts (by utilizing commercially available carbon feedstocks: carbon aerogel, coconut carbon and coal) for sulfur infusion, which limits polysulfide dissolution. The secondary goal of Phase I research is to improve the thermal and electrochemical stability of the electrolytes to further the reversibility of the redox reactions between lithium and sulfur and safety.