Volumetric expansion of Lithium-Sulfur cell during operation – Fundamental insight into applicable characteristics
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
During the operation of a Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) cell, structural changes take place within both positive and negative electrodes. During discharge, the sulfur cathode expands as solid products (mainly Li2S or Li2S/Li2S2) are precipitated on its surface, whereas metallic Li anode contracts due to Li oxidation/stripping. The opposite processes occur during charge, where Li anode tends to expand due to lithium plating and solid precipitates from the cathode side are removed, causing its thickness to decrease. Most research literature describe these processes as they occur within single electrode cell constructions. Since a large format Li-S pouch cell is composed of multiple layers of electrodes stacked together, and antagonistic effects (i.e. expansion and shrinkage) occur simultaneously during both charge and discharge, it is important to investigate the volumetric changes of a complete cell. Herein, we report for the first time the thickness variation of a Li-S pouch cell prototype. In these studies we used a laser gauge for monitoring the cell thickness variation under operation. The effects of different voltage windows as well as discharge regimes are explored. It was found that the thickness evolution of a complete pouch cell is mostly governed by Li anodes volume changes, which mask the response of the sulfur cathodes. Interesting findings on cell swelling when cycled at slow currents and full voltage windows are presented. A correlation between capacity retention and cell thickness variation is demonstrated, which could be potentially incorporated into Battery Management System (BMS) design for Li-S batteries.
Date Issued
2017-06-03
Date Acceptance
2017-05-31
Citation
Energy Storage Materials, 2017, 10, pp.233-245
ISSN
2405-8297
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
233
End Page
245
Journal / Book Title
Energy Storage Materials
Volume
10
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/L505298/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science
Lithium-Sulfur battery
Pouch cell
Volume expansion
Thickness change
Laser gauge
DIGITAL IMAGE CORRELATION
IN-SITU MEASUREMENTS
ENERGY-DENSITY
ION CELLS
POLYSULFIDE SHUTTLE
LI2S PRECIPITATION
BATTERIES
MECHANISM
DISCHARGE
CAPACITY
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-06-03