Directory:Lithium Sulphur Batteries
From PESWiki
| Table of contents |
An Overview of Lithium Sulphur Technology
A derivative of the Lithium Ion Battery is the Lithium Sulphur Battery, which could potentially deliver a 300+ miles per charge car batteries for electric vehicles.
The Lithium Sulphur Battery results from a unique merging of sulfur and lithium chemistries. The high electrochemical potential of lithium is combined with sulfur (Li-S) to attain superior rechargeable performance. Battery energy is stored and released when sulfur and lithium atoms are combined or separated. Sulfur offers higher charge capacity per gram than other cathode materials and provides a liquid cathode capable of delivering the high current densities needed in power tools and electric vehicles.
Lithium Sulfur Technology Specifics
Battery costs are driven primarily by the material content and yield. As sulfur is much less expensive than the typical components of other battery systems, the Li-S technology starts with a lower material cost than lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. To further reduce costs of Li-S batteries, thin film deposition techniques can be used for 75% of the cell components, resulting in less electrochemically inert material per cell.
A unique feature of Li-S technology is its liquid cathode. This provides exceptionally fast transfer of charge and offers two benefits. First, a wide range of power delivery can be accommodated. When a surge of power is required, as in power tools or vehicle acceleration, the liquid cathode provides a rapid flow of energy. Second, low temperature operation has less effect on energy availability. The liquid cathode's high-energy transfer rate provides at least 65% of ambient temperature rated capacity at temperatures as low as -40°C. Although consumer electronics are rarely exposed to these temperatures, this is important in in vehicles andmilitary electronics. In addition, no heavy metals are used, and therefore Li-S technology has low environmental impact.
Li-S technology provides rechargeable cells with a gravimetric energy density of over 300Wh/kg and the promise of 600Wh/kg energy densities in the future.
In addition to much higher gravimetric energy density, this unique chemistry has an inherent overcharge protection mechanism providing an additional layer of safety to the cells. For high power applications in power tools and appliances, Li-S is nearly the same as nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride in its rate capability, but having only one-third to one-fourth the weight.
Articles About Lithium Sulphur Batteries
The following articles are about developments and the future of Lithium Sulphur Battery technology:
- Intellikraft investigates novel Li-S rechargeable batteries (http://www.fusion-industry.org.uk/technology_intellikraft.htm)
- Rechargeable Lithium Batteries (http://www.mpoweruk.com/lithiumS.htm)
- Lithium sulphur holds key to future of battery power (http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Article19790.htm)
Companies Involved in Lithium Sulphur Battery Development
Lithium Sulphur Battery technology is being developed by many companies, including:
- Sion Power Tucson, AZ - developing a new generation of rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries for mobile electronics and electric vehicles. Based on the five times higher energy available from sulfur ions compared to other lithium chemistries, SION POWER's cell offers significant improvements in capacity, operating temperature and discharge rate.
- Intellikraft Ltd (http://www.oxisenergy.com/) Oxfordshire, UK
- Poly Plus Battery Company (http://www.polyplus.com/) Berkeley, CA
See Also
- Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Utility Scale Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Lithium Ion Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Silver Polymer Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Proton Polymer Batteries Directory at PESWiki
