Journal Article

Solar‐Driven Rechargeable Lithium–Sulfur Battery

Li, Guo‐Ran, Li, Tian‐Tian, Gao, Xue‐Ping, Chen, Peng

2019

Overview

Solar cells and rechargeable batteries are two key technologies for energy conversion and storage in modern society. Here, an integrated solar‐driven rechargeable lithium–sulfur battery system using a joint carbon electrode in one structure unit is proposed. Specifically, three perovskite solar cells are assembled serially in a single substrate to photocharge a high energy lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery, accompanied by direct conversion of the solar energy to chemical energy. In the subsequent discharge process, the chemical energy stored in the Li–S battery is further converted to electrical energy. Therefore, the newly designed battery is capable of achieving solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion under solar‐driven conditions, and subsequently delivering electrical energy from the stored chemical energy. With an optimized structure design, a high overall energy conversion efficiency of 5.14% is realized for the integrated battery. Moreover, owing to the self‐adjusting photocharge advantage, the battery system can retain high specific capacity up to 762.4 mAh g−1 under a high photocharge rate within 30 min, showing an effective photocharging feature. A perovskite solar cell and lithium–sulfur battery are integrated in one unit as a solar‐driven battery system by using a joint carbon electrode. Owing to the smart charge mode, a high overall efficiency exceeding 5% and high specific capacity of 750 mAh g−1 are obtained under fast photocharge rate approaching 2 C.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Alternative energy sources / Batteries / Carbon / carbon electrodes / Communication / Communications / Efficiency / Electrodes / Electrolytes / Lithium / lithium–sulfur batteries / perovskite solar cells / Photovoltaic cells / Solar energy / solar rechargeable batteries / Sulfur