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  • A room-temperature sodium-s...
    Xu, Xiaofu; Zhou, Dong; Qin, Xianying; Lin, Kui; Kang, Feiyu; Li, Baohua; Shanmukaraj, Devaraj; Rojo, Teofilo; Armand, Michel; Wang, Guoxiu

    Nature communications, 09/2018, Volume: 9, Issue: 1
    Journal Article

    High-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries operating at 300-350 °C have been commercially applied for large-scale energy storage and conversion. However, the safety concerns greatly inhibit their widespread adoption. Herein, we report a room-temperature sodium-sulfur battery with high electrochemical performances and enhanced safety by employing a "cocktail optimized" electrolyte system, containing propylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate as co-solvents, highly concentrated sodium salt, and indium triiodide as an additive. As verified by first-principle calculation and experimental characterization, the fluoroethylene carbonate solvent and high salt concentration not only dramatically reduce the solubility of sodium polysulfides, but also construct a robust solid-electrolyte interface on the sodium anode upon cycling. Indium triiodide as redox mediator simultaneously increases the kinetic transformation of sodium sulfide on the cathode and forms a passivating indium layer on the anode to prevent it from polysulfide corrosion. The as-developed sodium-sulfur batteries deliver high capacity and long cycling stability.