Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Ever-growing energy consumption has resulted in a fossil-fuel shortage and ecological deterioration. To face these challenges, advanced electrical energy storage technologies have been emerging for the storage and utilization of renewable energies. Among various technologies, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used in applications such as portable electronics, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and stationary and stand-by power generation. However, current commercial LIBs cannot meet the high energy density, low cost, safety, and long life prerequisites for the broad commercialization of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and large-scale energy storage. Therefore, new types of lithium-ion based batteries are in high demand as next-generation power sources. Herein, we propose the design and development of a low-cost high-energy Si-S battery prototype equipped with a silicon (Si)-based anode and sulfur (S)-based cathode. This novel energy storage system can overcome the existing challenges of energy density, safety, and cost as well as durability. The work entails an efficient anode design that innovatively combines Si nanoparticles with nitrogen-containing polymer and sulfur-doped graphene to create a unique 3D architecture with excellent mechanical and electrical properties, alongside an efficient technology to engineer Si electrodes with robust structures via flash heat treatment. Moreover, this work includes the design of a porous carbon/graphene architecture that acts not only as an effective S reservoir but also a highly conductive framework that prevents S loss and increases conductivity. This work will furthermore focus on carbon-free electrode design and fabrication with both physical and chemical confinement of S. An innovative cell design for practical batteries will also be developed. It is expected that the results of the proposed research will provide a potential breakthrough needed to develop a new type of battery with high energy density and long life.