Sulfur-modified electrolyte tackles solid-state battery limits

Researchers at Kennesaw State University, led by Assistant Professor Beibei Jiang, are developing a sulfur-modified composite solid electrolyte to enhance lithium-ion transport in solid-state batteries. These batteries replace the flammable liquid electrolytes found in conventional lithium-ion cells with solid materials, improving safety and thermal stability. However, slow lithium-ion movement through solids has limited charging speed and overall performance. Jiang’s team addresses this by incorporating sulfur-based chemical groups into a ceramic-polymer composite electrolyte, which reduces interfacial resistance and facilitates faster ion movement. This modification effectively “smooths the highway” for lithium ions, potentially enabling faster charging and better battery performance. A key discovery in their research is a previously undocumented strong interaction between sulfur and zirconium in the ceramic component, which significantly contributes to the improved ion transport. This finding emerged unexpectedly during early experiments and was harnessed to optimize the electrolyte design. The project, supported by a $200,000 National Science Foundation grant, is currently focused on validating the stability