A study on the electrochemical properties of PEO-carbon composite polymer electrolytes for lithium/sulfur battery

In this study, we investigated ionic conductivities of the electrolytes and cycle performances of Li/S cells using the electrolyte. (PEO)(10)LiCF3SO3 composite polymer electrolyte(CPE) containing carbon powders and Brij dispersant was prepared by ball milling for 12hr. The 5wt% carbon powders having high surface area (similar to 80 m(2)/g) was added into the (PEO)(10)LiCF3SO3 electrolyte. To get a well-dispersed structure, Brij dispersant was also added into the (PEO)(10)LiCF3SO3-5wt%Carbon electrolyte. Li/CPEs/50wt%S cells showed initial discharge capacities of between 1,250 and 1,413 mAh/g-sulfur with current density of 100 mA/g-sulfur at 80 degrees C. These results led us to conclude that the dispersants added into the CPE improved the initial discharge capacities and cycle performances.