Design summary draft 2

The article "How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world." written by Lockett (2022), introduces the discovery of Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries and their benefits with it. The Li-S batteries are cheaper to make, use environmentally friendly materials, can be three times lighter, and have a low chance of catching fire compared to lithium-ion batteries, but Li-S batteries typically have around 1000 charge cycles. Hence, there is a need to increase its charge cycles. However, according to the author, researchers find it difficult to increase the charge cycle of Li-S batteries by changing compounds in the battery’s cathode. “The uncontrolled dendritic and lithium growth, as well as electrolyte decomposition inherent in lithium metal-based batteries, cause safety issues and low Coulombic efficiency.” as observed by Li et al (2015). This causes a shuttling effect on Li-S batteries, due to the dissolution of lithium-polysulfides formed when the battery charges and discharges. However, the author states that the researchers were able to find a chemical phase of sulfur that was able to prevent the batteries from degrading. “Here, we stabilize a rare monoclinic γ-sulfur phase within carbon nanofibers that enables successful operation of Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries in carbonate electrolyte for 4000 cycles(Rahul Pai, Arvinder Singh, Maureen H. Tang, & Vibha Kalra,2022).” Rahul et al imply that with the introduction of gamma sulfur, they can stop the reaction that creates polysulfides. “which stabilizes to 800 mAh·g−1 in the first few cycles and then it remains stable with a small 0.0375% decay rate over 4000 cycles. The cells exhibit a high capacity of 650 mAh·g−1 even after the end of 4000 cycles.” Rahul et al mention that the decay rate of the new Li-S batteries is almost negligible even after 4000 cycles. With this breakthrough in Li-S batteries, the researchers still have yet to grasp the understanding of this phenomenon. Lockett believed that Li-S batteries have the potential to revolutionize the world. In my opinion, Li-S batteries should replace lithium-ion batteries because they cause less ecological harm, are cheaper ,and lighter.

References


Weiyang Li, Hongbin Yao, Kai Yan, Guangyuan Zheng, Zheng Liang, Yet-Ming Chaing & Yi Cui. (June 2015).

 The synergetic effect of lithium polysulfide and lithium nitrate to prevent lithium dendrite growth.

Nature Communications

https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms8436


Rahul Pai, Arvinder Singh, Maureen H. Tang & Vibha Kalra, (February 2022)

Stabilization of gamma sulfur at room temperature to enable use of carbonate electrolyte in Li-S batteries.

Nature Communications

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-022-00626-2?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PHSS_ALWYS_PRODUCT&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID100062364&CJEVENT=70ab9fddb82a11ec811f534d0a18050f 


William Lockett. (April 2022) An accidental discovery could change the world. Freethink

https://www.freethink.com/environment/lithium-sulfur-battery


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