Ionically conductive polymer/ceramic separator for lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries are highly promising as energy storage device for various applications due to their high theoretical energy densities, though their full potential is not yet reached. The cell component with the highest potential for overcoming the well-known degradation effects of the polysulfide shuttle during cycling is the separator. This study reports on a polymer/ceramic separator, which efficiently enhances the cell performance. Therefore, we prepared a series of polyvinylidenfluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) membranes with different amounts of a NASICON type ceramic of high intrinsic lithium ion conductivity. Electrochemical testing proves the good ionic conductivity of the composite separator as well as the reduced polysulfide shuttle within the cell.