Understanding the role of mass transport kinetic on reversible and irreversible capacity losses in lithium sulfur batteries

Lithium sulfur batteries (Li-S) have reached a growing interest in the research and industrial sector as reliable candidate as post-Lithium-ion batteries, due to their high theoretical specific capacity and the low cost involving the supply chain. However, their practical implementation faces several challenges due to the intrinsic complexity of a system based on conversion chemistry and the presence of dissolved active species in the electrolyte. In this work it is reported the effect of limited mass transport on reversible and irreversible capacity loss in a 1D framework. A parametric analysis was performed on different cases related to lithium diffusivity within the electrolyte, focusing not only on short- and long-term capacity but also on its effects on the potential curves and on the structural evolution of the cathode. The model has been proven able to simulate the experimentally observed consequences of shuttling, highlighting the necessity to look towards a common ground for the future optimization of Li-S batteries.