Novel Porous Complex Framework Materials (CFM) Based Sulfur Hosts for High Energy Density Li – S Batteries
Authors: Murugavel Shanthi Pavithra , Ramalinga Bandi , Gattu Bharat , Datta Moni Kanchan , Velikokhatnyi Oleg I , Kumta Prashant Nagesh 
Published: February 2020

Research to date has focused on improving the performance of conventional Li-ion batteries. Sulfur has been correspondingly identified as a promising cathode material. Li-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries exhibits a theoretic specific capacity if 1672 mAh/g1-2 as opposed to that of conventional cathode-based Li-ion batteries (372 mAh/g)3. Sulfur is also a relatively inexpensive and abundant material that adds to the advantages of the Li-S batteries4. However, the poor ionic and electronic conductivity (~10-30S/cm)5 of sulfur greatly limits its utilization during the electrochemical cycling process, in addition to the formation of non-insertion based polysulfide intermediates(Li2Sn ; n = 2 – 8)6. These polysulfide intermediated are extremely soluble in the organic Li-S battery electrolyte leading to loss of active material and fade in capacity eventually leading to cell failure.
Reduction of polysulfide dissolution is the primary focus of current Li-S battery research along with improving the ionic and electronic conductivity of sulfur. Polysulfide dissolution was reduced considerably by hosting sulfur into various porous carbonaceous materials7-12. These porous hosts act as polysulfide traps and help reduce the polysulfide diffusion and dissolution into the electrolyte. However, the porosity and architecture of these materials need to be engineered comprehensively in order to completely prevent polysulfide dissolution and meet the high sulfur loading (>6mg/cm2) requirements of the DOE Batt500 program.
In this work, novel highly porous carbonaceous materials with engineered porosity and mesoporous architectures have been identified to serve as effective high sulfur loading (~4-6 mg/cm2) cathodes with unique carbon-sulfur chemical interactions. These porous and engineered chemically bonded structures help improve the conductivity of the cathode along with the prevention of polysulfide dissolution. Detailed results of the chemical and electrochemical characterization of these materials will be presented and discussed.

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