(Invited) Integrating Material Design, in-Operando Spectroscopy and Device Testing for Next Generation Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Rechargeable batteries with conversion type electrodes are attractive due to their ability to achieve higher capacity through multi-electron transfer reactions. Elemental sulfur is one of the most interesting materials amongst all conversion-based cathodes because of its high theoretical capacity (~1675 mAh/g – 5-10-fold higher than Li-ion batteries), natural abundance, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. In this talk, I will share our group’s research on integrating material design and fabrication, in-operando and postmortem spectroscopy, and device assembly and testing (coin/pouch) to study and develop next generation lithium-sulfur batteries. I will discuss representative projects on studying cathode, anode, and electrolyte chemistries to mitigate key challenges, such as the notorious polysulfide shuttle and lithium instability, among others.