Compared with lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries have higher energy storage potential, but such batteries have a shorter lifespan. According to foreign media reports, researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have identified the main performance bottleneck.
Lithium-sulfur batteries are seen as the first choice for future batteries. Compared with lithium-ion batteries, the materials used are lower cost, more environmentally friendly, have higher energy storage capacity, and can operate at much lower temperatures. However, such batteries have short lifespans and large energy losses. The research team identified relevant processes that affect the performance of sulfur electrodes, which in turn dampen the current that can be delivered. During the charge-discharge cycle, different materials form, causing various problems, the researchers said. Local shortages of lithium often cause performance bottlenecks.
Daniel Brandell, professor of materials science at the school, said: "Understanding the problem can help develop new strategies and materials to improve battery performance. Identify the real bottleneck before taking the next step. In a complex system like a lithium-sulfur battery, This is a huge scientific challenge."
The study combined various radiation scattering techniques. The X-ray analysis was performed in Uppsala, Sweden, and the neutron results came from the Institut Laue Langevin, a large research facility in Grenoble, France.
Professor Adrian Rennie said: "This study shows the importance of infrastructure to solve problems in materials science. These tools are expensive but necessary to understand a complex system like this type of battery. During operation , many different reactions take place at the same time, and the resulting material can quickly disappear."
The research is part of a collaboration with Scania CV AB.
Not only private vehicles, but also commercial heavy-duty trucks need to use electricity, the researchers said. Therefore, a series of batteries that may be highly relevant in the future must be developed.
