Characterization of Polysulfide Radicals Present in an Ether-Based Electrolyte of a Lithium-Sulfur Battery during Initial Discharge Using in Situ X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Experiments and First-Principles Calculations

The presence and role of polysulfide radicals in the electrochemical processes of lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries is currently being debated. Here, first-principles interpretations of measured X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of Li-S cells are leveraged with an ether-based electrolyte. Unambiguous evidence is found for significant quantities of polysulfide radical species (LiS3, LiS4, and LiS5), including the trisulfur radical anion S3-, present after initial discharge to the first discharge plateau, as evidenced by a low energy shoulder in the S K-edge XAS below 2469 eV. This feature is not present in the XAS of cells at increased depth of discharge, which, by our analysis, exhibit increasing concentrations of progressively shorter polysulfide dianions. Through a combination of first-principles molecular dynamics and associated interpretation of in situ XAS of Li-S cells, atomic level insights into the chemistries are provided that underlie the operation and stability of these batteries. Calculated and measured sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) and schematic of a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell with ether-based electrolyte are reported. The XAS is obtained through the lithium anode probing the electrolyte beyond it. The signature of polysulfide radicals is found as a low-energy shoulder below 2469 eV after discharging to 2.25 V. This feature disappears at greater depths of discharge