AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries
In this work, material-sensitive atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used to analyse the cathodes of lithium–sulfur batteries. A comparison of their nanoscale electrical, electrochemical, and morphological properties was performed with samples prepared by either suspension-spraying or doct...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Beilstein-Institut
2013-10-01
|
| Series: | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.4.68 |
| _version_ | 1828789459282296832 |
|---|---|
| author | Renate Hiesgen Seniz Sörgel Rémi Costa Linus Carlé Ines Galm Natalia Cañas Brigitta Pascucci K. Andreas Friedrich |
| author_facet | Renate Hiesgen Seniz Sörgel Rémi Costa Linus Carlé Ines Galm Natalia Cañas Brigitta Pascucci K. Andreas Friedrich |
| author_sort | Renate Hiesgen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, material-sensitive atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used to analyse the cathodes of lithium–sulfur batteries. A comparison of their nanoscale electrical, electrochemical, and morphological properties was performed with samples prepared by either suspension-spraying or doctor-blade coating with different binders. Morphological studies of the cathodes before and after the electrochemical tests were performed by using AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cathodes that contained polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and were prepared by spray-coating exhibited a superior stability of the morphology and the electric network associated with the capacity and cycling stability of these batteries. A reduction of the conductive area determined by conductive AFM was found to correlate to the battery capacity loss for all cathodes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of Li2S exposed to ambient air showed that insulating Li2S hydrolyses to insulating LiOH. This validates the significance of electrical ex-situ AFM analysis after cycling. Conductive tapping mode AFM indicated the existence of large carbon-coated sulfur particles. Based on the analytical findings, the first results of an optimized cathode showed a much improved discharge capacity of 800 mA·g(sulfur)−1 after 43 cycles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:12:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc7b5b5a90814306b3f986806efbd6fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-4286 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:12:56Z |
| publishDate | 2013-10-01 |
| publisher | Beilstein-Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc7b5b5a90814306b3f986806efbd6fd2022-12-22T00:43:26ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862013-10-014161162410.3762/bjnano.4.682190-4286-4-68AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteriesRenate Hiesgen0Seniz Sörgel1Rémi Costa2Linus Carlé3Ines Galm4Natalia Cañas5Brigitta Pascucci6K. Andreas Friedrich7Faculty of Basic Science, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany,Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Electrochemical Energy Technology, German Aerospace Center, Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Technical Thermodynamics, Electrochemical Energy Technology, German Aerospace Center, Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Technical Thermodynamics, Electrochemical Energy Technology, German Aerospace Center, Stuttgart, GermanyFaculty of Basic Science, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany,Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Electrochemical Energy Technology, German Aerospace Center, Stuttgart, GermanyFaculty of Basic Science, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany,Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Electrochemical Energy Technology, German Aerospace Center, Stuttgart, GermanyIn this work, material-sensitive atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used to analyse the cathodes of lithium–sulfur batteries. A comparison of their nanoscale electrical, electrochemical, and morphological properties was performed with samples prepared by either suspension-spraying or doctor-blade coating with different binders. Morphological studies of the cathodes before and after the electrochemical tests were performed by using AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cathodes that contained polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and were prepared by spray-coating exhibited a superior stability of the morphology and the electric network associated with the capacity and cycling stability of these batteries. A reduction of the conductive area determined by conductive AFM was found to correlate to the battery capacity loss for all cathodes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of Li2S exposed to ambient air showed that insulating Li2S hydrolyses to insulating LiOH. This validates the significance of electrical ex-situ AFM analysis after cycling. Conductive tapping mode AFM indicated the existence of large carbon-coated sulfur particles. Based on the analytical findings, the first results of an optimized cathode showed a much improved discharge capacity of 800 mA·g(sulfur)−1 after 43 cycles.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.4.68conductive AFMhigh capacitylithium-sulfur batteriesmaterial-sensitive AFMsulfur cathode |
| spellingShingle | Renate Hiesgen Seniz Sörgel Rémi Costa Linus Carlé Ines Galm Natalia Cañas Brigitta Pascucci K. Andreas Friedrich AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology conductive AFM high capacity lithium-sulfur batteries material-sensitive AFM sulfur cathode |
| title | AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries |
| title_full | AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries |
| title_fullStr | AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries |
| title_full_unstemmed | AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries |
| title_short | AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries |
| title_sort | afm as an analysis tool for high capacity sulfur cathodes for li s batteries |
| topic | conductive AFM high capacity lithium-sulfur batteries material-sensitive AFM sulfur cathode |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.4.68 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT renatehiesgen afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT senizsorgel afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT remicosta afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT linuscarle afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT inesgalm afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT nataliacanas afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT brigittapascucci afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries AT kandreasfriedrich afmasananalysistoolforhighcapacitysulfurcathodesforlisbatteries |