Interference effect between lithium nitrate additive and the polysulfide adsorber magnesium ferrite in lithium-sulfur cells

Abstract

Polysulfide adsorbers and the anti-shuttle electrolyte additive lithium nitrate have been identified as key strategies in enabling high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. However, while these two additions have been studied in isolation, little research has been conducted on how they may interact. Herein, we demonstrate that the polysulfide adsorber magnesium ferrite, MgFe2O4, interferes with the beneficial effects of lithium nitrate, and vice versa. This interference is found to reduce the performance of lithium-sulfur cells incorporating MgFe2O4 as an interlayer. It appears to originate from the balance of interaction energies between each of these components.