Next-Generation Batteries with Sulfur Cathodes provides a comprehensive review of a modern class of batteries with sulfur cathodes, particularly lithium-sulfur cathodes. The book covers recent trends, advantages and disadvantages in Li-S, Na-S, Al-S and Mg-S batteries and why these batteries are very promising for applications in hybrid and electric vehicles. Battery materials and modelling are also dealt with, as is their design, the physical phenomena existing in batteries, and a comparison of batteries between commonly used lithium-ion batteries and the new class of batteries with sulfur cathodes that are useful for devices like vehicles, wind power aggregates, computers and measurement units. Provides solutions for the recycling of batteries with sulfur cathodes Includes the effects of analysis and pro and cons of Li-S, Na-S, Al-S, Mg-S and Zn-S batteries Describes state-of-the-art technological developments and possible applications

Over-consumption of fossil fuels has caused deficiency of limited resources and environmental pollution. Hence, deployment and utilization of renewable energy become an urgent need. The development of next-generation rechargeable batteries that store more energy and last longer has been significantly driven by the utilization of renewable energy.This book starts with principles and fundamentals of lithium rechargeable batteries, followed by their designs and assembly. The book then focuses on the recent progress in the development of advanced functional materials, as both cathode and anode, for next-generation rechargeable batteries such as lithium-sulfur, sodium-ion, and zinc-ion batteries. One of the special features of this book is that both inorganic electrode materials and organic materials are included to meet the requirement of high energy density and high safety of future rechargeable batteries. In addition to traditional non-aqueous rechargeable batteries, detailed information and discussion on aqueous batteries and solid-state batteries are also provided.

A guide to lithium sulfur batteries that explores their materials, electrochemical mechanisms and modelling and includes recent scientific developments Lithium Sulfur Batteries (Li-S) offers a comprehensive examination of Li-S batteries from the viewpoint of the materials used in their construction, the underlying electrochemical mechanisms and how this translates into the characteristics of Li-S batteries. The authors – noted experts in the field – outline the approaches and techniques required to model Li-S batteries. Lithium Sulfur Batteries reviews the application of Li-S batteries for commercial use and explores many broader issues including the development of battery management systems to control the unique characteristics of Li-S batteries. The authors include information onsulfur cathodes, electrolytes and other components used in making Li-S batteries and examine the role of lithium sulfide, the shuttle mechanism and its effects, and degradation mechanisms. The book contains a review of battery design and: Discusses electrochemistry of Li-S batteries and the analytical techniques used to study Li-S batteries Offers information on the application of Li-S batteries for commercial use Distills years of research on Li-S batteries into one comprehensive volume Includes contributions from many leading scientists in the field of Li-S batteries Explores the potential of Li-S batteries to power larger battery applications such as automobiles, aviation and space vehicles Written for academic researchers, industrial scientists and engineers with an interest in the research, development, manufacture and application of next generation battery technologies, Lithium Sulfur Batteries is an essential resource for accessing information on the construction and application of Li-S batteries.

In this book, the development of next-generation batteries is introduced. Included are reports of investigations to realize high energy density batteries: Li-air, Li-sulfur, and all solid-state and metal anode (Mg, Al, Zn) batteries. Sulfide and oxide solid electrolytes are also reviewed.A number of relevant aspects of all solid-state batteries with a carbon anode or Li-metal anode are discussed and described: The formation of the cathode; the interface between the cathode (anode) and electrolyte; the discharge and charge mechanisms of the Li-air battery; the electrolyte system for the Li-air battery; and cell construction. The Li-sulfur battery involves a critical problem, namely, the dissolution of intermediates of sulfur during the discharge process. Here, new electrolyte systems for the suppression of intermediate dissolution are discussed. Li-metal batteries with liquid electrolytes also present a significant problem: the dendrite formation of lithium. New separators and electrolytes are introduced to improve the safety and rechargeability of the Li-metal anode. Mg, Al, and Zn metal anodes have been also applied to rechargeable batteries, and in this book, new metal anode batteries are introduced as the generation-after-next batteries.This volume is a summary of ALCA-SPRING projects, which constitute the most extensive research for next-generation batteries in Japan. The work presented in this book is highly informative and useful not only for battery researchers but also for researchers in the fields of electric vehicles and energy storage.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted great attention as the next-generation batteries due to their high theoretical gravimetric energy density of ~2510 Wh/kg in comparison to ~400 Wh/kg for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Besides, sulfur has advantages, including abundant reserves, low price, and environmental friendliness. However, the practical application of Li-S batteries is hindered by several challenges of sulfur cathode such as dissolution of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in the electrolyte, the cracks issue caused by volume change of active materials during cycling, and poor conductivity, which reduce the capacity and cycle life of practical cells significantly. Even worse, these challenges become more severe when fabricating high-loading sulfur cathode, which is the path to the commercial application of Li-S batteries. In this doctoral dissertation, I have developed a "bottom-up" molecular engineering strategy to achieve high-loading, long-cycle-life sulfur cathode based on a multi-functional binders design. To confine LiPSs, Chapter 2 demonstrates the design and synthesis of novel binder PENDI based on redox active naphthalene diimide (NDI), which confines LiPSs through chemical interactions and redox mediation effect. The detailed redox mediation mechanism of PENDI to reduce the accumulation of LiPSs is proposed, providing a promising strategy to prevent the dissolution of LiPSs via an organic redox mediator. Chapter 3 presents the strategy to mitigate cracks by reversibly crosslinking PENDI with triPy crosslinker based on pi-pi interaction. The resulting PENDI/triPy supramolecular network demonstrates not only enhanced mechanical properties, but also tunable self-healing properties. Besides, a strategy to decouple macro-scale properties from the covalent structure of supramolecular polymers is reported to tune both mechanical and self-healing properties over a wide range, without changing the structure of polymer components. Building upon Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, Chapter 4 integrates the molecular designs into sulfur cathode and details the optimization of high-loading, long-cycle-life sulfur cathodes by mechanically stabilizing sulfur cathode with PENDI-based binders. By utilizing triPy crosslinker and PVDF additive, both the toughness and stiffness of PENDI-based binders are dramatically improved, enabling the fabrication of sulfur cathode with high areal discharge capacity (> 4.1 mAh/cm2, C/10 rate) and high cathode discharge capacity (> 10 mAh).

Battery Technologies A state-of-the-art exploration of modern battery technology In Battery Technologies: Materials and Components, distinguished researchers Dr. Jianmin Ma delivers a comprehensive and robust overview of battery technology and new and emerging technologies related to lithium, aluminum, dual-ion, flexible, and biodegradable batteries. The book offers practical information on electrode materials, electrolytes, and the construction of battery systems. It also considers potential approaches to some of the primary challenges facing battery designers and manufacturers today. Battery Technologies: Materials and Components provides readers with: A thorough introduction to the lithium-ion battery, including cathode and anode materials, electrolytes, and binders Comprehensive explorations of lithium-oxygen batteries, including battery systems, catalysts, and anodes Practical discussions of redox flow batteries, aqueous batteries, biodegradable batteries, and flexible batteries In-depth examinations of dual-ion batteries, aluminum ion batteries, and zinc-oxygen batteries Perfect for inorganic chemists, materials scientists, and electrochemists, Battery Technologies: Materials and Components will also earn a place in the libraries of catalytic and polymer chemists seeking a one-stop resource on battery technology.

This book focuses on the design, fabrication and applications of carbon-based materials for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. It provides insights into the localized electrochemical transition of the “solid-solid” reaction instead of the “sulfur-polysulfides-lithium sulfides” reaction through the desolvation effect in subnanometer pores; demonstrates that the dissolution/diffusion of polysulfide anions in electrolyte can be greatly reduced by the strong binding of sulfur to the oxygen-containing groups on reduced graphene oxide; manifests that graphene foam can be used as a 3D current collector for high sulfur loading and high sulfur content cathodes; and presents the design of a unique sandwich structure with pure sulfur between two graphene membranes as a very simple but effective approach to the fabrication of Li-S batteries with ultrafast charge/discharge rates and long service lives. The book offers an invaluable resource for researchers, scientists, and engineers in the field of energy storage, providing essential insights, useful methods, and practical ideas that can be considered for the industrial production and future application of Li-S batteries.