A self-stabilizing suspension catholyte that will allow for stable Li–S flow batteries over the long run
The lithium–sulfur suspension flow battery is a promising technology for the storage of huge amounts of energy; nevertheless, the necessity of the long-term stability of the suspension catholyte cannot be overstated if this system is to ever see widespread use in the future. In this work, a novel pie-structured sulfur-Ketjenblack@reduced graphene oxide (S-KB@rGO) composite is used as the foundation for the development and preparation of a particular self-stabilized suspension catholyte. The unique hyperbranched structure of the KB contributes to the increased stability of the suspension.
The rGO sheets that wrap the S-KB particles not only serve as a multilayered physical barrier for sulphur immobilization, but also help facilitate electron transportation throughout the entire suspension. Because of this, a suspension catholyte that is stable both physically and electrochemically over the long term can be produced because to the synergistic effect that KB and rGO have. Li–S flow cells containing this catholyte have good cycle stability (more than 1000 cycles with 99% coulombic efficiency) and low levels of self-discharge (1.1% loss per day). Continuous charge and discharge tests are carried out in a variety of flow modes, and a discussion is held regarding the impact that flow rate has on the overall performance of flow batteries. The consistency of the suspension catholyte is further validated by the fact that it operates smoothly in the mode that allows for continuous flow.
