Natural halloysite nano-clay electrolyte for advanced all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries

• Published in: Nano energy 2017-01, Vol.31, p.478-485
• Main Authors: Lin, Yue, Wang, Xuming, Liu, Jin, Miller, Jan D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Flexible film; Halloysite nanotube; Lithium-sulfur battery; Nano-clay; Solid polymer electrolyte
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.11.045

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) show increasing potential for application in high energy lithium sulfur batteries due to good flexibility and high safety. However, low room temperature ionic conductivity of SPEs has become the main limitation. Herein, a novel SPE film using natural halloysite nano-clay has been fabricated, which exhibits exceptional ionic conductivity of 1.11×10−4Scm−1 and lithium ion transference number of 0.40 at 25°C. The mechanism of enhanced lithium ion transport is considered. The oppositely charged halloysite nanotube surfaces separate lithium salt into lithium ions that are absorbed on the negatively charged outer silica surface, and anions may be accommodated on the positively charged inner aluminol surface. So, an ordered 3D structure for free lithium ion transport is suggested. This potential application of the natural halloysite nano-clay has been demonstrated by an all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery over a wide temperature range of 25–100°C. These results reveal the possibility of realizing sustainable high energy storage at a reduced cost. [Display omitted] •Natural halloysite nanotubes (HNT) are directly used as solid electrolyte filler.•Oppositely charged HNT surfaces enhance lithium ionic conductivity.•Application of the HNT electrolyte is demonstrated by high energy Li-S battery.•Sustainable high energy storage is revealed at a reduced cost.