Modeling the discharge behavior of a lithium-sulfur battery

Erisen N., Eroglu D.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, vol.44, no.13, pp.10599-10611, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 44 Issue: 13
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/er.5701
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.10599-10611
  • Keywords: carbon-to-sulfur ratio, cell design, electrochemical modeling, electrolyte-to-sulfur ratio, lithium-sulfur batteries, HIGH-ENERGY DENSITY, MATHEMATICAL-MODEL, ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE, POLYSULFIDE SHUTTLE, KEY PARAMETERS, CELL, ELECTROLYTE, DESIGN, LIQUID, CAPACITY
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, the discharge performance depends greatly on a number of cell design parameters because of the complex reaction mechanisms in the cathode. Electrolyte-to-sulfur (E/S) ratio and carbon-to-sulfur (C/S) ratio in the cell are key examples of these critical design factors that define the Li-S battery performance. Here, a 1-D electrochemical model is reported to calculate the dependence of the discharge behavior of a Li-S battery on the E/S and C/S ratios. Proposed model describes the complex kinetics through two electrochemical and two dissolution/precipitation reactions. Concentration variations in the cathode are also taken into account in the model. Characteristic aspects of the discharge profile of a Li-S battery -the two distinct voltage plateaus and the voltage dip in between- are captured in the predicted voltage curve. Similar trends on the discharge performance of the Li-S cell with varying E/S and C/S ratios are projected; both voltage and discharge capacity of the Li-S battery are improved substantially with increasing C/S or E/S ratio up to a certain point, whereas, the dependence of the discharge performance on these factors is less substantial at higher ratios. This model offers a mechanistic interpretation of the influence of cell design on the Li-S battery performance.