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Research Article

A dual-functional poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(lithium acrylate) composite nanofiber separator for ionic shielding of polysulfides enables high-rate and ultra-stable Li-S batteries

Chunyang Zhou1, Jing Wang4, Xiaobo Zhu1, Kai Chen1, Yue Ouyang1, Yue Wu3, Yue-E Miao1( ), Tianxi Liu1,2
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Research Center for Analysis and Measurement, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS), Department of Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
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Abstract

Despite the high theoretical specific capacity, the main challenges of rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, including the unceasing shuttle of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and severe Li corrosion, seriously hinder their commercial and practical applications. Herein, a bifunctional polyvinyl alcohol/poly(lithium acrylate) (C-PVA/PAA-Li) composite nanofiber separator is developed to address the main challenges in Li-S batteries by simultaneously allowing rapid lithium ion transport and ionic shielding of polysulfides. The C-PVA/PAA-Li composite nanofiber membrane is prepared via the facile electrospinning strategy, followed by thermal crosslinking and in-situ lithiation processes. Differing from the conventional Celgard-based coating methods accompanied by impaired lithium ion transport efficiency, the C-PVA/PAA-Li composite nanofiber membrane possesses well-developed porous structures and high ionic conductivity, thus synergistically reducing the charge transfer resistance and inhibiting the growth of lithium dendrites. The resulting Li-S batteries exhibit an ultra-low fading rate of 0.08% per cycle after 400 cycles at 0.2 C, and a capacity of 633 mA·h·g-1 at a high current density of 3 C. This study presents an inspiring and promising strategy to fabricate emerging dual-functional separators, which paves the pathway for the practical implementation of ultra-stable and reliable Li-S battery systems.

Keywords

nanofiber separatorelectrospinningionic shieldingdendrite-freelithium-sulfur battery

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Nano Research
Volume 14 Issue 5,
May 2021
Pages 1541-1550
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-3213-y
Cite this article:
Zhou C, Wang J, Zhu X, et al. A dual-functional poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(lithium acrylate) composite nanofiber separator for ionic shielding of polysulfides enables high-rate and ultra-stable Li-S batteries. Nano Research, 2021, 14(5): 1541-1550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3213-y
Topics:
BatteriesCharge transferIon batteriesLithiumLithium sulfur batteriesNanofibersPolysulfidesSulfur compounds

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Received: 17 August 2020
Revised: 06 October 2020
Accepted: 27 October 2020
Published: 04 January 2021
© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
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