New Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Offer High Storage Capacities and Low Material Costs

A research project called “MaSSiF – Material Innovations for Solid-State Sulfur-Silicon Batteries” is currently underway at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden. The project is dedicated to developing a new generation of lithium-sulfur batteries that are lightweight, low-cost, and have high storage capacities. These prototype cells are expected to have a significant impact on the battery industry due to their high storage capacities and low material costs.

Solid-State Sulfide Batteries: A Promising Successor to Lithium-Ion Batteries

Solid-state batteries based on sulfide are being considered as a possible successor technology to today’s lithium-ion batteries. These batteries promise greater range and safety for use in electric vehicles, thanks to their high energy density and stability. One major advantage of using sulfur as the cathode active material in these batteries is that it is free of critical elements such as cobalt and nickel that are commonly used in lithium-ion technology. Sulfur also achieves very high energy densities in solid-state batteries.

Challenges Associated with the Anode Material in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The anode in lithium-sulfur batteries poses major challenges in the battery’s processing and operation. Current research aims to use metallic lithium as negative electrodes in solid-state batteries, but the high reactivity of lithium limits the stability and safety of these cell systems. Therefore, the MaSSiF project partners are focusing on an anode material that has also proven to be a promising alternative in current scientific research for use in solid-state batteries: silicon.

Combining Sulfur, Solid Electrolyte, and Silicon for an Innovative Cell Concept

The combination of sulfur (or lithium sulfide), a solid electrolyte, and silicon should result in an innovative cell concept that combines low material costs and high energy density. Applying silicon as the anode material in these batteries is also expected to significantly improve the cycle life of the battery cells.

Funding for MaSSiF Project

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will provide funding for six partners from science and industry with a total of nearly 2.9 million euros to support the MaSSiF project. The project was launched in February 2023 and aims to design, construct, and evaluate lightweight and low-cost sulfur-based prototype cells with high storage capacities.

Conclusion

The MaSSiF project is expected to make significant progress towards developing a new generation of lithium-sulfur batteries with high storage capacities and low material costs. These batteries offer a promising alternative to today’s lithium-ion batteries and have the potential to revolutionize the battery industry. The combination of sulfur, solid electrolyte, and silicon should result in an innovative cell concept that combines low material costs and high energy density, making these batteries a viable option for electric vehicles and other applications.

source:https://batteryindustry.tech/sulfur-and-silicon-as-building-blocks-for-solid-state-batteries/