Lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries are emerging as a promising “beyond lithium-ion battery” technology due to their high energy density and sustainability benefits [1]. A typical Li-S cell consists of electrodes for energy storage, an electrolyte for Li⁺-transport, and a separator that ensures ion migration for long-term operation. Sustained efforts have been devoted to developing electrode materials with high specific capacities. However, their practical utility is hindered due to microporous separator materials, which lead to major challenges such as polysulphide shuttling, poor cycling stability, and safety concerns [2]. One way to address this setback is by designing separator materials that conduct Li+-ions selectively while eliminating porosity and polysulphide shuttling.
Consequently, this project aims to develop solid polymer membranes with efficient Li+-conducting nanochannels for high energy density Li-S batteries. The nanochannels selective to Li+-ions will be constructed in situ during photo-polymerization enabled by digital light processing 3D printing [3, 4].
The research will combine polymer science, electrochemistry, and advanced materials characterization to deliver:
- A new class of functional polymer membranes tailored for Li-S battery chemistry.
- Comprehensive understanding of ion transport and structural design by compositional optimization.
- Performance of the developed membranes in high-energy Li-S electrochemical cell.
School
Chemical Engineering
Research Area
Chemical engineering | Materials science | Clean energy | Environmental and sustainability engineering
Suitable for recognition of Work Integrated Learning (industrial training)?
No
- Research environment
- Expected outcomes
- Supervisory team
- Reference material/links
Cluster of Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD) is a centre of excellence with disciplinary expertise in novel polymer synthesis and their virtuous energy and biomedical applications. The CAMD have a dedicated Journal-club consortium for interaction offering extended growing network opportunities with doctoral and post-doctoral researchers for future career mentoring and subject excellence.
Through TOR-training project, the student will gain a solid understanding of block copolymers featuring lithium-ion-selective nanostructures, along with hands-on experience in their characterization and data analysis. The student will also acquire practical skills in electrochemical cell fabrication and performance evaluation by operating advanced electrochemical workstations. By the end of the project, the student will be able to develop a novel polymer membrane and showcase its application in high-performance lithium-sulphur batteries.
- Pathak, A.D., Cha, E. and Choi, W. (2024). Towards the commercialization of Li-S battery: From lab to industry. Energy Storage Materials, 72, 103711.
- Kang, X., He, T., Niu, S., Zhang, J., Zou, R., Zhu, F. and Ran, F. (2024). Precise design of a 0.8 nm pore size in a separator interfacial layer inspired by a sieving effect toward inhibiting polysulfide shuttling and promoting Li+ diffusion. Nano Letters, 24(33), 10007.
- Lee, K., Shang, Y., Bobrin, V.A., Kuchel, R., Kundu, D., Corrigan, N. and Boyer, C. (2022). 3D printing nanostructured solid polymer electrolytes with high modulus and conductivity. Advanced Materials, 34(42), 2204816.
- Wu, D., Dev, V., Bobrin, V.A., Lee, K. and Boyer, C. (2024). Nanostructure design of 3D printed materials through macromolecular architecture. Chemical Science, 15(46), 19345.