November 16, 2016, Research Highlights

The Effect of Hydrofluoroether Addition on S8 Reduction and the Li+ Solvation Structure in the Solvate Electrolyte

The hydrofluoroether, TTE, competes with MeCN coordination to Li+ in the solvate electrolyte resulting in a higher free MeCN content as TTE is added. The content of free MeCN affects S8 reduction kinetics likely through facilitation of polysulfide formation and enhanced local solvation effects. Read More

October 14, 2016, Research Highlights

Dendrites and Pits: Untangling the Complex Behavior of Lithium Metal Anodes through Operando Video Microscopy

A mechanistic understanding of the complex cycling behavior of Li metal anodes has been gained by combining operando video microscopy with continuum-scale modeling of Li/Li symmetric cells. Read More

August 24, 2016, Videos

Sparingly Solvating Electrolytes for High Energy Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

As JCESR scientists work to develop lighter and less expensive chemistries than those used in current lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur shows tremendous promise. This perspective presents an alternate approach that could move us closer to long-lived, high energy density lithium-sulfur batteries. Read More

July 11, 2016, Research Highlights

Sparingly Solvating Electrolytes for High Energy Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

This work presents the promising new concepts of using sparingly solvating electrolyte to enable Li-S battery operation at lean electrolyte condition, as well as the design rules for discovering new electrolyte systems. Read More

July 1, 2016, Research Highlights

Ammonium Additives to Dissolve Li2S through Hydrogen Binding for High Energy Li-S Batteries

Ammonium salts are demonstrated as effective additives to promote the dissolution of Li2S (up to concentrations of 1.25 M) in DMSO solvent at room temperature through hydrogen binding between N-H groups and S2- anions. Read More

March 29, 2016, Research Highlights

Effect of the Anion Activity on the Stability of Li Metal Anodes in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Discovered why the salt LiTFSI -- when added to the electrolyte of a Li-S battery -- allows the battery to hold a charge much longer than other salts Read More

March 29, 2016, Research Highlights

Restricting the Solubility of Polysulfides in Li-S Batteries Via Electrolyte Salt Selection

Lithium 2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dicyanoimidazole (LiTDI) as a supporting salt in electrolytes suppresses the maximum solubility of Li2S8 by forming a Li4S8 dimer rather than the Li2S3 and Li2S5 observed in a LiTFSI electrolyte, which enables a cell with a high sulfur loading (3 mg-S cm-2) to deliver a 1.67 mAh cm-2 areal capacity after 300 stable cycles at a high current density (2.4 mA cm-2). Read More

February 1, 2016, Research Highlights

In situ 7Li and 133Cs NMR Investigations of the Role of Cs+ Additive in Lithium-Metal Deposition Processes

Insights are obtained into the mechanisms of adding Cs+ to protect the Li-metal electrode during battery cycling. Read More

December 21, 2015, Research Highlights

Redox Mediators that Promote Three-Dimensional Growth of Li2S on Carbon Current Collectors in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Developed, from computation and experiment, redox mediators that allow 3-D growth of Li2S on carbon current collectors for greater capacity utilization in Li-S batteries Read More

December 21, 2015, Research Highlights

Compliant Glass–Polymer Hybrid Single Ion-Conducting Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

We have successfully developed non-flammable hybrid single-ion-conducting electrolytes comprising inorganic sulfide glass particles covalently bonded to a perfluoropolyether polymer. These electrolytes present high transference numbers, unprecedented ionic conductivities at room temperature, excellent electrochemical stability, and limit the dissolution of lithium polysulfides. Read More