High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Organic-Inorganic Composite Electrolyte

Lithium-Sulfur Composite Electrolyte with Polysulfide Control via Gradient Silica Nanoparticles

This technology controls the migration of lithium polysulfides and enhances ionic conductivity by dispersing negatively charged silica nanoparticles within the polymer electrolyte of a lithium-sulfur battery, creating a gradient structure that concentrates the particles toward the cathode.

In lithium-sulfur batteries, intermediate lithium polysulfides dissolve into the liquid electrolyte, causing side reactions on the electrode surface. Furthermore, the low ionic conductivity and limited ability of conventional composite polymer electrolytes to control polysulfide migration have historically led to reduced cycle life and capacity.

By introducing a composite electrolyte in which silica nanoparticles (100–500 nm in size with a negative charge of -10 mV or less) are dispersed within a gel polymer electrolyte, this technology is expected to overcome the limitations of existing materials when applied to lithium secondary battery cathodes.

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Key Features:

• Lithium-sulfur secondary battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and a gel polymer electrolyte with dispersed negatively charged inorganic nanoparticles.
• Structure featuring a concentration gradient where negatively charged inorganic nanoparticles are concentrated in the region adjacent to the cathode.
• Configuration that controls the migration of lithium polysulfides by dispersing negatively charged silica nanoparticles within the polymer electrolyte.
• Configuration that improves ionic conductivity and suppresses the polysulfide shuttle effect by concentrating inorganic nanoparticles at the cathode side.

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