Glass-sulfur composite cathodes: A new strategy for improving the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the potential of glass-sulfur composites to improve lithium–sulfur battery (LSB) performance. Glass-sulfur composites were prepared by the precipitation method, and the effect of varying carbon black content was studied. The results showed that glass addition improved the battery performance due to the high ion-conductivity of its structural motif. The 75 % glass variant demonstrated the best results, in both the low carbon and high carbon cases. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements showed that glass-sulfur composites had lower resistivity than pure sulfur, which was beneficial for battery performance. The XANES analysis revealed that the incorporated glass interacted with and modified the properties of sulfur, leading to a higher proportion of sulfur in the -1 oxidation state (S−1). This suggests that the high proportion of S−1 phase benefitted battery capacity. Overall, glass-sulfur composites prepared using the precipitation method and incorporating a high content of carbon show promise as a novel and improved cathode material for LSBs.