Development of prototype pouch cells of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries in solid-liquid state with high stability and advanced scale of technological maturity

• Grant number: 22/02222-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: Hudson Giovani Zanin
• Grantee: Érick Alves Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ)
• Associated research grant: 17/11958-1 - CINE - Advanced Energy Storage Division, AP.PCPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/01031-1 - In-situ absorption synchrotron techniques to study middle and high entropy materials as catalysts in Li-S pouch cell batteries., BE.EP.DR

Abstract

This proposal aims to foster the doctoral research of the student Érick Alves Santos, with a focus on the production of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries in pouch cells format, which have dimensions of 5x7 cm and bold characteristics: 1300 mA h/g sulfur, 10 Ah, and 1000 cycles, with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) close to 6. The project will be based on the advancements presented during the candidate's master's period, so that we expect to mitigate the problems associated with battery chemistry and initial engineering for scaling up the prototype. Considering this, the use of the catholyte as a means of sulfur addition will be evaluated, considering its sulfur/electrolyte ratio at different concentrations. In order to mitigate the shuttle effect, catalysts will be employed in the activated carbon (AC) electrode, such as CoMnAlO-based, NWO, and/or MoS catalysts. These catalysts can act on trapping the lower-order polysulfides (Li2S and Li2S2), serving as ionic conductors and absorption points for these same species. Aiming to inhibit the dendrite effect on the metallic lithium surface, coating methods using additives in the electrolyte will be investigated, such as quasi-solid-state (QSS) from a polymeric matrix and growth of LiOH layers. In light of these proposals, we aim to achieve a maturity index of 6 with multicam pouch cells upon the conclusion of this project. According to the TRL scale, level 6 means obtaining experimental proof that the pouch cell operates under nominal and stable conditions, not only in the laboratory but also in a relevant environment for application. Additionally, there will be a strong effort from the group to perform fundamental cell tests in in-situ synchrotron radiation operation mode. In this sense, the candidate's project has strong roots in fundamental science, using cutting-edge characterization techniques and with potential commercial application, as a possible prototype for a startup with 100% national laboratory. (AU)

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANTOS, ERICK A.; FERNANDES, RODOLFO C.; VICENTINI, RAFAEL; AGUIAR, JOAO PEDRO; DA SILVA, LEONARDO M.; ZANIN, HUDSON. On the electrochemical properties of lithium-sulfur batteries. JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE, v. 71, p. 14-pg., 2023-11-01. (18/02713-8, 22/02222-0, 20/04281-8, 14/02163-7, 16/25082-8, 18/20756-6)

AMARAL, MURILO M.; BIN MUJIB, SHAKIR; SANTOS, ERICK A.; RIBEIRO, JOSIMAR; ZANIN, HUDSON; SINGH, GURPREET. A sulfur host based on silicon oxycarbide for advanced lithium-sulfur batteries. JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE, v. 72, p. 11-pg., 2023-11-25. (21/09387-1, 22/02222-0)

SANTOS, ERICK A.; ANCHIETA, CHAYENE G.; FERNANDES, RODOLFO C.; PINZON, MANUEL J.; MIRANDA, ANDRE N.; GALANTINI, ISABELA; MAIA, FRANCISCO C. B.; DOUBEK, GUSTAVO; RODELLA, C. B.; DA SILVA, LEONARDO M.; et al. Combining in situ electrochemistry, operando FTIR and post-mortem analyses to understand Co-Mn-Al spinels on mitigating shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur battery. NANO ENERGY, v. 116, p. 15-pg., 2023-08-28. (22/02222-0, 20/04281-8, 22/02901-4)

SANTOS, ERICK A.; AMARAL, MURILO M.; DAMASCENO, BARBARA S.; DA SILVA, LEONARDO M.; ZANIN, HUDSON G.; WEKER, JOHANNA N.; RODELLA, CRISTIANE B.. Advanced in situ/operando characterizations of lithium-sulfur batteries: A sine qua non. NANO ENERGY, v. 130, p. 37-pg., 2024-08-14. (22/02222-0, 17/11958-1, 21/09387-1, 24/01031-1, 17/11986-5)

VIEIRA, JOSE LUCAS; SANTOS, ERICK ALVES; RIBEIRO, CAUE; GALLO, JEAN MARCEL R.. The Impact of the Ratio Between Stronger and Weaker Acid Sites on the Production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural and Furfural from Monosaccharides. CHEMCATCHEM, v. 16, n. 13, p. 10-pg., 2024-03-22. (22/02222-0, 19/02132-8, 20/04109-0, 18/01258-5, 21/14442-1, 16/02128-2, 15/50093-0, 17/11986-5, 14/02163-7)

OLIVEIRA FILHO, HELDER R.; SANTOS, ERICK A.; MONTEIRO, ROBSON S.; ZANIN, HUDSON; TEOFILO, REINALDO F.. Enhanced cyclability and energy density of mid-nickel layered oxide cathode material LiNi_0.55Mn_0.25Co_0.20O₂ by niobium doping via solvothermal method. Electrochimica Acta, v. 507, p. 11-pg., 2024-10-10. (17/11986-5, 22/02222-0)

SANTOS, ERICK A.; BARROS, LETICIA M. S.; PELUSO, ANNA F. DE F. V.; GALANTINI, ISABELA; GONCALVES, JOSUE M.; MACIEL FILHO, RUBENS MACIEL; ZANIN, HUDSON. Trends in ionic liquids and quasi-solid-state electrolytes for Li-S batteries: A review on recent progress and future perspectives. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, v. 493, p. 26-pg., 2024-06-01. (21/09387-1, 17/11986-5, 22/02222-0, 23/08594-9)

GONCALVES, JOSUE M.; SANTOS, ERICK A.; MARTINS, PAULO ROBERTO; SILVA, CRISTIANE GARCIA; ZANIN, HUDSON. Emerging medium- and high-entropy materials as catalysts for lithium-sulfur batteries. ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS, v. 63, p. 20-pg., 2023-09-30. (22/02222-0)