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Initiating a Reversible Aqueous Zn/Sulfur Battery through a “Liquid Film”
Author(s) -
Zhao Yuwei,
Wang Donghong,
Li Xinliang,
Yang Qi,
Guo Ying,
Mo Funian,
Li Qing,
Peng Chengxin,
Li Hongfei,
Zhi Chunyi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202003070
Subject(s) - polysulfide , cathode , sulfur , battery (electricity) , materials science , electrolyte , aqueous solution , chemical engineering , dimethoxyethane , lithium–sulfur battery , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , metallurgy , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Sulfur cathodes have been under intensive study in various systems, such as Li/S, Na/S, Mg/S, and Al/S batteries. However, to date, Zn/S chemistry has never been reported. The first reliable aqueous Zn/polysulfide system activated by a “liquid film” comprising 4‐(3‐butyl‐1‐imidazolio)‐1‐butanesulfoni ionic liquid (IL) encapsulated within PEDOT:PSS. CF 3 SO 3 − anions in the IL operating as Zn 2+ ‐transfer channels is reported. Moreover, the PEDOT:PSS network retains the IL, which renders Zn 2+ ‐transfer channels and a polysulfide cathode with enhanced structural stability. The Zn/polysulfide system delivers extraordinary capacity of 1148 mAh g −1 and overwhelming energy density of 724.7 Wh kg −1 cathode at 0.3 Ag −1 . During the discharging phase, S 6 2− is dominantly reduced by Zn to S 2− (S 6 → S 2− ). During the charging phase, these short chains are oxidized to form long‐chain Zn x Li y S 3‐6 . A further optimized high‐concentrated salt electrolyte is used to improve the reversibility of the battery, demonstrating an extended lifetime over 1600 cycles at 1 Ag −1 with a capacity retention of 204 mAh g −1 . This facile approach and the superior performance of the developed aqueous Zn/S chemistry provide a new platform for sulfur‐based battery and potentially solve the problems of other metal/sulfur batteries.