Summary Reader Response Draft 2
The article “How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world.”, written by Lockett (2022), introduces the discovery of using Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) as a new variation for rechargeable batteries and its benefits. Li-S batteries could be the catalyst in the advancement of batteries. It boasts possibilities of cheaper manufacturing costs, three-fold lighter batteries and finally, a reduction in involuntary battery combustions. However, Li-S typically has a charge cycle of around 1000 charges, half that of Li-I’s. Thus, it is necessary to improve its charge cycles.
According to Li. et al., (2015, P. 1), although promising, researchers had difficulties increasing the charge cycle of the Li-S batteries by changing compounds in its cathode. “Unfortunately, uncontrolled dendritic and mossy lithium growth, as well as electrolyte decomposition inherent in lithium metal-based batteries, cause safety issues and low Coulombic efficiency.” This issue caused a shuttling effect on Li-S batteries due to the dissolution of lithium-polysulfides formed when the battery underwent charging and discharging. However, Pai. et al., (2022, P. 1) mentioned that researchers found a chemical phase of sulfur which prevented the batteries from degrading. “Here, we stabilize a rare monoclinic γ-sulfur phase within carbon nanofibers that enables successful operation of Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries in carbonate electrolyte for 4000 cycles.” The authors implied that the reaction that creates polysulfides could be nullified with the introduction of gamma sulfurs. Pai. et al., (2022, P. 4) also stated that the decay rate of the new Li-S batteries was almost negligible even after going through 4000 cycles. “The carbonate-based battery exhibits high reversible capacity, which stabilizes to 800 mAh·g−1 in the first few cycles and then it remains stable with a small 0.0375% decay rate over 4000 cycles. The cells exhibit a high capacity of 650 mAh·g−1 even after the end of 4000 cycles.”
The author, Lockett, believes that Li-S batteries have the potential to revolutionize the world. In my opinion, Li-S batteries should replace Li-I batteries as they cause less ecological harm, are cheaper, lighter in weight and there is an abundance of sulfur on Earth.
The usage of sulfur in lithium batteries would be a better choice when compared to Li-I batteries due to the abundance of sulfur. They substitute sulfur, a cheap raw element that is a by-product of the oil industry, for cobalt, which is sensitive to weak global supply networks. Additionally, their prices per unit of power can result in considerable savings. (Merrifield,2020). Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO), Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxide (NMC), and Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide (NCA) are the three Li-I battery types considered in this comparison. Sulfur is 550 times less expensive than cobalt and 243 times less expensive than nickel. (Benveniste et al., 2018). According to research on drones, Li-S, which costs about €72 per kWh and is 30% less expensive than comparable Li-I technology, may result in significant cost savings (Merrifield, 2020). Rechargeable batteries and the parts that make up the batteries' ecological cost are a growing source of concern. Li-I batteries usually contain nickel and cobalt, as was previously mentioned. These minerals are now produced through significant mining activities, with cobalt mining being the primary cause for worry (Gifford, 2020). When cobalt mines run dry, miners take the metal from private property, agriculture, and residences. In addition to lowering crop yields, tainting food and water, and posing dangers to reproductive and respiratory health, cobalt and other metal mining waste can contaminate water, air, and soil (Northwestern University, December 2021). Sulfur, on the other hand, is abundant—so much so that the US Geographical Survey classifies it as nearly limitless—and it is produced on several continents. Additionally, according to environmental regulators, sulfur does not pose any significant health dangers (Gifford, 2020).
Li-S batteries' superior energy density per unit weight over Li-ion batteries is a key selling point (Gifford, 2020). The energy density of the present Li-S ranges from 200 to 500 Wh/kg, while that of the LCO, NMC, and NCA is 240 Wh/kg, 220 Wh/kg, and 260 Wh/kg, respectively (Benveniste Pérez et al., 2018). High energy density batteries have longer run times compared to smaller batteries. Compared to batteries with lesser energy density, it can produce the same amount of energy with a smaller footprint (Cloud, 2020). As a result, Li-S batteries can be more compact, lighter, and longer-lasting between charges. Although Li-S batteries can theoretically attain an energy density of 2600 Wh/kg, in practice they have only been able to produce 500 W/kg, which is one of the problems researchers are trying to overcome. High sulfur loading and high sulfur utilization are necessary to produce higher energy densities. Despite the researchers' talks and creation of some parameters, it hasn't been possible to meet all these standards at once (Feng et al.,2020). The biggest issue with Li-S batteries is their low number of charge cycles. This indicates that as the battery is charged and discharged over time, its performance declines. Although researchers are currently working on improving this aspect of Li-S batteries.
To conclude, despite the fact that in many ways the Li-S battery may appear to be superior to the Li-I battery, While the market for electric vehicles is expanding, it appears that Li-S batteries have not yet reached commercial viability. Researchers are looking on ways to boost energy density and stop degradation. If scientists are successful, the Li-S battery will soon displace the Li-I battery since it is more effective.
References
Benveniste Pérez, G., Rallo, H., Canals Casals, L., Merino, A., & Amante García, B. (2018). Comparison of the state of lithium-sulfur and lithium-ion batteries applied to electromobility.
https://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstream/handle/2117/121911/comparison_state.pdf;sequence=1
Cloud, M.(2020, August 21). What is the energy density of a lithium-ion battery? Flux power.
https://www.fluxpower.com/blog/what-is-the-energy-density-of-a-lithium-ion-battery
Feng, Y., Wang, G., Ju, J., Zhao, Y., Kang, W., Deng, N., & Cheng, B. (2020, November). Towards high energy density Li-S batteries with high sulfur loading: From key issues to advanced strategies. ScienceDirect.
Gifford, S.(2020, July). Lithium-sulfur batteries: advantages. The Faraday Institution.
https://www.faraday.ac.uk/lis-advantages/
Lockett, W. (2022 ,April 17). How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world. BigThink.
Li, W., Yao, H., Yan, K., Zheng, G., Liang, Z., Chiang, Y., & Cui, Y. (2015, June 17). The synergetic effect of lithium polysulfide and lithium nitrate to prevent lithium dendrite growth. Nature Communications.
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms8436
Merrifield R. (2020, June 05). Cheaper, lighter and more energy-dense: the promise of lithium sulfur batteries. European Commission.
Northwestern University. (2021, December 17). Understanding cobalt’s human cost:Social consequences of green energy must be assessed in addition to environmental impacts, researchers say. ScienceDaily.
Rahul Pai, R., Singh, A., Tang, M., & Kalra, V. (2022, February 10). Stabilization of gamma sulfur at room temperature to enable the use of carbonate electrolyte in Li-s batteries. Nature Communications.
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