Transition Metal Dichalcogenides as Effective Catalysts for High-Rate Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Monica J. Theibault, Cierra Chandler, Ismaïla Dabo, Héctor D. Abruña
Abstract
In today’s renaissance of high-energy-density secondary batteries, lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries represent one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of renewable energy storage systems due to sulfur’s high theoretical specific capacity of 1675 mA h g –1 and high earth abundance. However, despite decades of study, the issues associated with capacity fade via the polysulfide shuttle and sluggish kinetics remain. Through a rigorous and detailed electrochemical study of lithium polysulfides via rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry, we have investigated the kinetics of the redox reactions and explored candidate catalysts to potentially overcome/mitigate the polysulfide shuttle effect. From these RDE studies, supported by comprehensive electronic structure calculations of conversion-type surface reactions, we determined that WSe 2 can effectively catalyze the polysulfide redox reaction, though further studies are necessary to improve the overall Li–S battery performance.