Skip to content

New electrolyte additive and electrospun polymeric nanocomposite membranes in manipulating the dendrite growth in lithium batteries

Subcategory (under Clean Energy): Cross Cutting
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): TRL 4 - Early prototype
Technology Outline (Process Description)
  • Lithium metal anode based batteries such as lithium-sulfur (Li-S; 2600 Wh/Kg) and lithium-air (Li-O2; 3580 Wh/Kg) have received worldwide attention, thanks to its outstanding theoretical energy density. However, the inevitable side reactions and unavoidable dendrite growth of lithium metal anodes with organic electrolytes resulting in fast electrolyte consumption is the serious drawback that limits the application aspect of lithium metal In addition, the fracture of lithium metal dendrites during stripping process causes the formation of “dead Lithium” resulting failure of the lithium metal anode.
  • To address these issues, we attempted to develop a technological strategy through the “Department of Science and Technology-Materials for Energy Storage (DST-MES’2018)” program that involves the regulation of electric double layer (EDL) at the lithium anode interface, employing sulfur based electrolyte additives such as diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DAPS), pyridine thiol (Py-SH) and pyridyl disulfide (Py-S). 
  • In addition, a new strategy of employing electrospun poly (vinylidene fluoride)/Talc composites as the separator, rendering stable voltage hysteresis has also been proposed.

Salient Features/Advantages

  • Usage of sulfur based electrolyte additives in lithium salt electrolyte renders stable long term electrochemical cycling behaviour with outstanding coulombic efficiency
  • Replacing commercial polypropylene (PP) separator with electrospun polymer nanocomposite membrane can potentially reduce the dendrite growth with improvised solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer
  • Energy density of the lithium batteries can be significantly improved ng prelithiated copper foil instead of lithium metal anode

Key Outcomes

  • Lithium-ion batteries (Coin cell/Pouch cells) with significant improvement in

    • Specific capacity
    • Long term cycling behaviour
    • Energy density   

IP Protection details

  • Patent filed (Title, national/International): Nil
  • Patents Granted: Nil
  • Copyrights obtained /progress on commercialisation /Pl. specify connect with industry: Nil

Contact details (for more information)

  • Nodal Person name: Dr. A. M. Shanmugharaj
  • Email ID: a.m.shanmugharaj@gmail.com
  • Organisation name (Relevant link/web page): Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies
Supporting Photographs/Images

Organizations involved in the development (logo/name)

Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies

Scroll to Top