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Controlled Atomic Layer Deposition of Aluminum Oxide to Improve the Performance of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Author(s) -
García Sarai,
Leonet Olatz,
Azaceta Eneko,
Gómez Iñaki,
Reifs Antonio,
Blázquez J. Alberto,
Knez Mato
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201901432
Subject(s) - atomic layer deposition , cathode , lithium (medication) , sulfur , materials science , battery (electricity) , lithium–sulfur battery , energy storage , deposition (geology) , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , layer (electronics) , electrode , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , electrochemistry , metallurgy , power (physics) , engineering , medicine , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , endocrinology , sediment , biology
The high capacity of sulfur makes lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries the most promising next‐generation battery systems. With a significantly higher theoretical specific energy than conventional lithium‐ion batteries, this technology is intensely investigated. However, currently used cathodes have some critical drawbacks which affect the performance of Li–S batteries. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) demonstrates its power for solving some emerging issues in energy‐storage systems. The application of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) to the cathode surface improves the morphology and/or chemistry, providing a solution for some of the most common issues of Li–S batteries. Herein, the cathode of Li–S batteries is coated with alumina by ALD. In addition, the optimal parameters for ALD application to sulfur‐based electrodes are reported. It is demonstrated that alumina deposition results in an improved capacity of the system. The process temperature plays an important role, in particular for few‐cycle ALD processes, aiding better cell performance. Higher numbers of ALD cycles, especially at elevated process temperatures, result in considerable sulfur loss, which significantly lowers the cell performance. Cathodes coated with alumina at low process temperatures and with low numbers of ALD cycles are promising alternatives for conventional Li–S cathodes as they increase the capacity of the system considerably.