The world of batteries is changing rapidly, and researchers worldwide have been developing Lithium-Sulfur battery technology, which has the potential to replace Lithium-Ion, the standard for rechargeable batteries for decades. Lithium-Sulfur batteries offer greater energy density, longer lifespan with more charge cycles, and reduced cost. This article brings to light the latest advancements in Lithium-Sulfur battery technology, how it could replace Lithium-ion batteries, and the challenges that need to be addressed for commercialization.
Introduction
Batteries are everywhere in today’s world, from our smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. For decades, Lithium-Ion batteries have been the standard for rechargeable batteries due to their high energy densities, long cycle life, and relatively low self-discharge rate. However, researchers have been pushing a stable and improved alternative to the Lithium-Ion batteries – the Lithium-Sulfur battery technology. Lithium-Sulfur batteries are an emerging technology that offers several benefits over Lithium-ion batteries, such as greater energy density, lower cost, and an environment-friendly aspect, especially when combined with sulfur rather than cobalt. However, they face some significant limitations, such as dealing with sulfur’s physical and chemical properties that impose many challenges within the battery structure, contamination of the anode due to polysulfide movement, and the sulfur cathod going through phase change during charge and discharge, causing structural damage to the battery cells.
In this article, we will take a broad overview of Lithium-Sulfur battery technology, covering its advantages concerning Lithium-Ion battery technology, the latest advancements, production challenges that make it difficult to scale and commercialize, and how it could revolutionize various industries.
Advancements in Lithium-Sulfur Battery Technology
Researchers and scientists worldwide are working continuously on improving Lithium-Sulfur battery technology. The following are some promising paths they identified to address the challenges Lithium-Sulfur batteries face:
- Redox-active interlayer technology: Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have recently developed a redox-active interlayer within the battery, which can reduce shuttling and detrimental reactions while increasing the energy storage capacity of Lithium-Sulfur batteries.
- Lithium-Sulfur batteries to replace Lithium-Ion batteries: LG Energy Solution, a South Korean multinational battery manufacturer, has recently announced its plans to commercialize Lithium-Sulfur batteries beginning in 2025. The company claims that the new battery will offer twice the energy density per weight compared to conventional Lithium-ion batteries.
- Prototype batteries: The Lithium-Sulfur battery technology is still in development, and several research labs worldwide are testing different approaches to improve the battery’s performance. For example, the Listar consortium is developing a Lithium-Sulfur battery to enable next-generation batteries to meet the industry’s needs for high specific energy density, longer cycle life, and reduced cost.
- Sulfur conductivity: Researchers worldwide have been developing materials with high sulfur conductivity that will improve the battery’s performance. For example, researchers from the UK as a global hub of life and environmental sciences have been researching biological structures to improve sulfur conductivity.
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Aramid nanofibers: To address the problem of the sulfur cathode going through a phase change during charge and discharge, which damages the battery’s structure, researchers are using aramid nanofibers to interlayer the anode. The Lyten technology, supported by Stellantis Ventures, an accelerator technology investing in the future mobility industry, is looking to bring to market Lithium-Sulfur battery technology for mobility machines to help meet the needs of lightweight and energy-dense batteries that are free from supply chain disruptions.
Challenges to Lithium-Sulfur Battery Commercialization
Lithium-Sulfur batteries are still in the development phase, and several challenges need to be addressed to scale production for commercialization. Though Lithium-Sulfur battery technology offers a higher energy density than Lithium-Ion, several factors need to be considered to make it a commercially viable option. The challenges that need to be addressed in Lithium-Sulfur battery commercialization include the following: -
Volume expansion of the cathode: When the battery is charging, Lithium ions pick up electrons and move through the electrolyte to the cathode. During discharge, the process reverses, and Lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode. During both processes, the cathode undergoes volume expansion that could lead to the structural deterioration of the battery over time.
- Polysulfide movement: During battery operation, the unstable intermediate polysulfides tend to move through the electrolyte and are reduced to lithium sulfide on the anode, leading to contamination and poor battery performance.
- Cycle life and specific energy: In Lithium-Sulfur batteries, the theoretical specific energy exceeds that of most conventional Lithium-Ion batteries. Still, their operational specific energy is low due to low sulfur utilization. Researchers are trying to improve sulfur utilization to maximize the specific energy of Lithium-Sulfur batteries.
- Operating temperature: Lithium-Sulfur batteries are less tolerant of high temperatures than other rechargeable batteries, decreasing their cycle life and increasing their safety risks.
Industry Adoption of Lithium-Sulfur Battery Technology
Companies and industry leaders have recognized Lithium-Sulfur battery technology’s potential in various industries. Lithium-Sulfur batteries can be a practical solution in mobility industries such as drones and aerospace, where power-to-weight ratios are critical. The following initiatives taken in some industries signify the Lithium-Sulfur battery technology’s industry adoption:
- Mobility Industry: Lyten, supported by Stellantis Ventures, has invested in commercializing Lithium-Sulfur battery technology for mobility machines, including drones, planes, and aerospace vehicles to improve performance while reducing the carbon footprint.
- EV Battery: The Lithium-Sulfur battery has the potential to revolutionize the Electric Vehicle battery industry. In 2019, researchers from Virginia Tech designed a Lithium-Sulfur battery with high specific energy and reversible capacity that could drive EVs over long distances without recharging.
- Supply Sovereignty: Several countries producing raw materials for Lithium-Ion batteries are raising concerns over their supply sovereignty. Lithium-Sulfur batteries provide a potential solution to this issue, as sulfur, a primary component in Lithium-Sulfur batteries, is abundant and often extracted as a byproduct from fossil fuels.
- Clean Energy: Low-cost and high energy density Lithium-Sulfur batteries can play an essential role in storing renewable energy to enable a clean and sustainable energy future.
Conclusion
Lithium-Sulfur battery technology has the potential to revolutionize the battery industry with its cost-effectiveness and high energy-dense storage capacity. Lithium-Sulfur batteries are not yet commercially viable due to several technical challenges, including battery life, performance, and safety issues. Researchers and companies are continuously working to address these challenges in Lithium-Sulfur battery technology to move closer towards the goal of producing high-performance commercial battery products. While there is still a long way to go before its commercial production and adoption, Lithium-Sulfur battery technology presents a bright future for sustainable and environment-friendly energy systems.
Jasmine Young is a passionate writer and researcher specializing in battery technology, with a keen interest in its applications across various industries and its role in shaping a sustainable energy future.