Na3V2(PO4)3-decorated separator as an improved catalysis ceramic layer for high-performance lithium sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries present a promising potential in meeting the demand of high energy and low-cost energy storage system. However, it suffers from the severe shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and sluggish sulfur chemistry kinetics. Herein, NASICON-type ceramic material Na3V2(PO4)(3) is developed to decorate on polypropylene (PP) membrane as a catalysis layer to adsorb lithium polysulfides and accelerate the conversion of sulfur electrochemistry redox reaction. Meanwhile, the sophisticated architecture on separator provides additional lithium ion intercalaction-extraction behavior, which helps to hamper the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides. The collaborative contribution of above virtues endows the Li-S batteries with excellent capacitive performance of 1045.3 mA h g(-1) at 0.2 C current density, superior rate capability (590.4 mA h g(-1)) at 4 C although the cycling stability over 400 cycles at 4C is still needed to improve. This work offers an elaborate ceramic coating layer engineering on separator to act as an electro-catalyst role to improve the conversion reversibility and kinetics in lithium sulfur battery with high-energy.

Automated summary

In this study, a NASICON-type ceramic material Na3V2(PO4)(3) is developed to decorate on polypropylene (PP) membrane as a catalysis layer, which can adsorb lithium polysulfides and accelerate the conversion of sulfur electrochemistry redox reaction. Additionally, the sophisticated architecture on separator provides additional lithium ion intercalaction-extraction behavior to hinder the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides. These contributions result in excellent capacitive performance and superior rate capability in lithium-sulfur batteries.