Decoration of Silica Nanoparticles on Polypropylene Separator for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

A SiO2 nanoparticle decorated polypropylene (PP) separator (PP-SiO2) has been prepared by simply immersing the PP separator in the hydrolysis solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with the assistance of Tween-80. After decoration, the thermal stability and the electrolyte wettability of the PP-SiO2 separator are obviously improved. When the PP-SiO2 separator is used for lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries, the cyclic stability and rate capability of the batteries are greatly enhanced. The capacity retention ratio of the Li-S battery configured with the PP-SiO2 separator is 64% after 200 cycles at 0.2 degrees C, which is much higher than that configured with the PP separator (45%). Moreover, the rate capacity of the Li-S batteries using the PP-SiO2 separator reaches 956.3, 691.5, 621, and 567.6 mAh g(-1) at the current density of 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 degrees C, respectively. The reason could be ascribed to that the polar silica coating not only alleviates the shuttle effect but also facilitates Li-ion migration.