In Operando Measurement of Lithium Polysulfides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Using Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy

Keywords

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cells, Polysulfide shuttling, Spectro-electrochemical cell, Attenuated total reflection (ATR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Electrolyte-saturated pores

Abstract

Li-S cells promise a theoretical capacity much greater than existing Li-ion technology, but the problem of polysulfide shuttling, which leads to self-discharge and loss of active material, remains one of the largest barriers to commercial adoption. We report a spectro-electrochemical cell designed for in operando measurements of the order and concentration of lithium polysulfides (Li2Sn, where n is the order). The design is a major improvement on existing cells, which typically require significant modifications from commercial cell geometries and require low charge/discharge rates during operation. The optically accessible Li-S cell resembles a CR2032 battery, and is constructed on a metallic disc with a diamond crystal at its center.

Original Publication Citation

Najmus Saqib, Gretchen M. Ohlhausen, Jason M. Porter, In Operando Measurement of Lithium Polysulfides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Using Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy, 231st ECS Meeting, May 28-June 1 (2017), New Orleans, LA.

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

2017-06-01

Publisher

The Electrochemical Society

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Department

Mechanical Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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