A new discovery could bring closer the commercialization of the long-awaited lithium-sulfur batteries, cheaper, more environmentally friendly and with greater storage than current lithium batteries. The electric car market would be the big beneficiary and manufacturers are rubbing their hands.
Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been in the spotlight for years due to their potential to revolutionize the battery industry and bring us one step closer to a green revolution in transportation.
These batteries promise a more sustainable future with greater energy storage capacity, lower costs and the use of more abundant materials compared to current lithium-ion batteries.
However, its short useful life has been a major obstacle to its adoption in the market, mainly for use in electric cars.
Now, a team of scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has made a remarkable breakthrough that could change this picture and bring us closer to the reality of Li-S batteries.
Their research, published in Nature, has identified a previously unknown reaction mechanism that addresses one of the main problems with these batteries.
The problem lies in the dissolution of sulfur during battery discharge. The compounds flow toward the anode during recharging, further degrading battery performance. This loss of sulfur and changes in the composition of the anode have been to blame for the short lifespan of Li-S batteries..
The solution: a revolutionary catalyst
The catalyst they propose allows the formation of dense bubbles at the nanometric level of lithium polysulfides on the surface of the cathode. This prevents sulfur loss and performance deterioration in larger batteries.
This advance has been possible thanks to the use of cutting-edge techniques, including synchrotron X-ray beams, which analyzed the structure of the catalyst and its role in the reaction pathway to avoid the discharge problem.
With this new discovery, lithium-sulfur batteries are closer to becoming a reality and to offer a crucial solution for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future mobility.