Mitigating Polysulfide Shuttling to Extend Cycle Life

The demand for energy storage batteries with high specific energy and extended useful life has grown significantly as the world seeks a solution beyond fossil fuels. Rechargeable Li-ion batteries currently dominate applications requiring high-energy-density and reliable cycle life. While traditional Li-ion chemistries are nearing theoretical specific energy limits, Li-S chemistry emerges as a promising solution, pending resolution of existing obstacles.ĀĀThe main hurdle in achieving a deliverable Li-S chemistry in an 18650 package is significantly reducing polysulfide shuttling between the electrodes which poisons the Li-anode and removes capacity from the cathode. NextechÆs experimental approach to mitigate polysulfide shuttling is to investigate: 1.Ātwo cathode modification approaches, 2.Ātwo anode modification approaches, and 3.Āmodifying the electrolyteĀand then combining the most promising approaches into coin or in NexTechÆs lab cell configuration and then 18650 cells for AIAA S-144-202X test, evaluation, first-order modeling, and determination of way-forward toward Phase II execution.