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Integrating a Photocatalyst into a Hybrid Lithium–Sulfur Battery for Direct Storage of Solar Energy
Author(s) -
Li Na,
Wang Yarong,
Tang Daiming,
Zhou Haoshen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201503425
Subject(s) - energy storage , oxidizing agent , battery (electricity) , solar energy , polysulfide , lithium (medication) , materials science , photocatalysis , environmental science , chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , electrode , quantum mechanics , endocrinology , electrolyte , biochemistry , catalysis , medicine , power (physics) , physics , organic chemistry
Direct capture and storage of abundant but intermittent solar energy in electrical energy‐storage devices such as rechargeable lithium batteries is of great importance, and could provide a promising solution to the challenges of energy shortage and environment pollution. Here we report a new prototype of a solar‐driven chargeable lithium–sulfur (Li‐S) battery, in which the capture and storage of solar energy was realized by oxidizing S 2− ions to polysulfide ions in aqueous solution with a Pt‐modified CdS photocatalyst. The battery can deliver a specific capacity of 792 mAh g −1 during 2 h photocharging process with a discharge potential of around 2.53 V versus Li + /Li. A specific capacity of 199 mAh g −1 , reaching the level of conventional lithium‐ion batteries, can be achieved within 10 min photocharging. Moreover, the charging process of the battery can proceed under natural sunlight irradiation.