Modulating Ion‐Dipole and Dipole–Dipole Interactions for Stable Wide‐Temperature‐Range Lithium–Sulfur Batteries Enabled by Quantum‐Dot Catalysts
Abstract
Abstract The incomplete conversion of sulfur species, particularly the pivotal intermediate solid Li 2 S 2 during redox processes, poses a significant limitation on the cyclability of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, a synergistic modulation strategy of ion‐/dipole–dipole interactions that tailors the solvation sheath configuration and activates the electrochemical reactivity of Li 2 S 2 is initially proposed for accelerating kinetics. As a proof of concept, the molybdenum nitride quantum dots located on nitrogen‐doped carbon (MoNQDs/NC) were designed. Advanced in situ/ex situ characterizations combined with theoretical calculations reveal that MoNQDs/NC effectively weaken the ion‐dipole interactions within Li(solvent) x + species, thereby facilitating the desolvation process. Furthermore, the robust dipole–dipole interactions between polar domains of MoNQDs and Li 2 S 2 are realized to generate localized tensile strain fields to destabilize the S─S/Li─S bonds network. Consequently, the optimal cells maintain a high areal capacity (>5.0 mAh cm −2 ) after 50 cycles at high sulfur loading (4.4–9.1 mg cm −2 ) over a wide temperature range (0–60 °C). Furthermore, the pouch cell with a sulfur loading of 1.5 g retained a capacity of 1.79 Ah after 15 cycles, highlighting the potential of this ion‐dipole modulation strategy for commercializing LSBs.
Article Details
Authors (18)
Yongqian He
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of New Energy Equipment, Energy Storage Materials and Devices, National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Key Materials of New Energy Storage Battery, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
Duanfeng Xiong
School of Materials Science and Engineering Xiangtan University Xiangtan 411105 China
Manfang Chen
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of New Energy Equipment, Energy Storage Materials and Devices, National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Key Materials of New Energy Storage Battery, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
Wanqi Zhang
Sisi Liu
Yongjie Ye
Mengqing Wang
Ying Chen
Qin Tang
Xuewen Peng
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of New Energy Equipment, Energy Storage Materials and Devices, National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Key Materials of New Energy Storage Battery, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
Caixiang Wang
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of New Energy Equipment, Energy Storage Materials and Devices, National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Key Materials of New Energy Storage Battery, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
Hongyang Zhan
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of New Energy Equipment, Energy Storage Materials and Devices, National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Key Materials of New Energy Storage Battery, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
Hong Liu
Min Liu
Jincang Su
School of Materials Science and Engineering Xiangtan University Xiangtan 411105 China
Hongbo Shu
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of New Energy Equipment, Energy Storage Materials and Devices, National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Key Materials of New Energy Storage Battery, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
Jian Wang
Xianyou Wang
National Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Application of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry Xiangtan University Xiangtan P. R. China