Metal-organic frameworks based membrane as a permselective separator for lithium-sulfur batteries

Although lithium-sulfur batteries possess five-fold higher theoretical capacity than the state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, the migration of polysulfide between the electrodes remains as a problem area. In order to overcome this issue, numerous strategies have been adopted. Herein, we introduce a novel 1,3,5 benzene tricarboxylate-manganese (Mn-BTC) metal organic framework (MOF) coated-Celgard (2320) separator which acts as permselective in a Li-S cell. The Li-S cell with coated membrane exhibited higher discharge capacity than the uncoated one. The diffusion of polysulfides is successfully blocked by the separator due to the repulsive ionic forces provided by the COO- that is present in the periphery of Mn-BTC MOF which was confirmed by XPS and XRD analyses. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.