Key Parameters Governing the Energy Density of Rechargeable Li/S Batteries

Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries have high theoretical capacity and energy density. However, their volumetric energy density has been believed to be lower than that of conventional lithium ion batteries employing metal oxide cathodes like LiCoO2. Here, we study the effects of sulfur loading percentage, develop a simple model and calculate the gravimetric and volumetric energy densities based on the total composition of electrodes in a lithium-sulfur cell, and compare those results with a typical graphite/LiCoO2 cell. From the model output, we have identified and established key parameters governing the energy density of rechargeable Li/S batteries. We find that the sulfur loading percentage has a much higher impact on the volumetric energy density than on the gravirnetric energy density. A lithium-sulfur cell can exceed a lithium ion cell's volumetric energy density but only at high sulfur loading percentages (ca. 70%). We believe that these findings may attract more attention of lithium-sulfur system studies to high sulfur loading levels.