New insights into the electrode mechanism of lithium sulfur batteries via air-free post-test analysis

Abstract

Effects of the volume expansion and shrinkage of Li₂S cathodes on electrochemical cycle life are investigated via post-test analysis without exposure to air. The engineered electrodes that confine volume changes within micro-reactors have significantly longer life than the electrodes without the micro-reactor structure, providing the first unambiguous evidence of the importance of confining volume changes for improved battery performance.