Report Title: Next-Generation Sulfur Cathode: Porous Materials and Electrocatalyst to Accelerate Sulfur Conversion Reaction
Reporting time: 2024.07.04 10:00-11:30
Reporting Location: Conference Room 2, Graphic Information Centre
Presenter: Jinwoo Lee professor,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Abstract: Although lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been expected as a promising high-energy-density battery system, entangled problems in each cell component hamper their practical use. Especially in cathode, low electronic/ionic conductivity of sulfur based active material, continuous dissolution of polysulfide, and sluggish redox kinetics cause the poor cycle stability and energy density. For the energy density of 500~600 W h kg-1, achievement of high areal sulfur loading and low electrolyte to sulfur (E/S) ratio is needed, but conventional carbon/sulfur composite-type cathodes have limitations to satisfy this requirement. In this seminar, next-generation sulfur cathode with the electrocatalyst accelerating the sulfur conversion reaction is introduced as a powerful platform to simultaneously improve the cycle stability, reversible capacity, and rate capability. This seminar aims to present comprehensive overview of previously conducted studies and future research direction to design the efficient electrocatalyst for sulfur cathode. In particular, strategies to search for new electrocatalyst, to improve the catalytic activity and stability of catalyst, and to fundamentally understand the electrocatalytic trends in sulfur cathode will be covered. We believe development of optimized catalytic materials in cathode with the deep fundamental understanding on electrocatalysis enables realization of high areal sulfur loading and low E/S ratio for high energy density of Li-S batteries.
Jinwoo Lee received Ph.D. from Seoul National University in 2003 and worked in KAIST as chair professor. His primary research focuses on synthesizing of new functional nanoporous materials for energy conversion and storage applications, including rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, water electrolysis, and CO2 conversion. He received excellent Research Award, Korea Zeolite Association (KZA) in 2011, and SIMGANG excellent research paper award, KIChE in 2013. He is currently serving as an editor of Chemical Engineering Journal (Elsevier).