Supporting data for "Correlations between precipitation reactions and electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries"

This is the dataset of electrochemical and operando small-angle and wide-angle scattering experiments for our publication "Correlations between precipitation reactions and electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries probed by operando scattering techniques". The title of the article was changed in the revision process while this dataset was already published. This archive contains the raw data and scripts written in R used in the analysis and presentation of the results in this manuscript.

Abstract for the manuscript:

A comprehensive description of electrochemical processes in the positive electrode of lithium-sulfur batteries is crucial for the utiliza- tion of active material. However, the discharge mechanisms are complicated due to various reactions in multiple phases and the tor- tuosity of the highly porous carbon matrix. In this work, simulta- neous measurements of small-angle and wide-angle scattering and cell resistance are performed on operating lithium-sulfur cells. Re- sults indicate that precipitates grow mostly in number, not in size, and that the structure of the carbon matrix is not affected. The com- parison of the small-angle and wide-angle scattering reveals the amorphous discharge products found at a low discharge rate. Further analysis demonstrates the correlation between the diffusion resistance and the compositional change of electrolyte in the meso- pores at the end of discharge, which suggests that Li-ion deficiency is the limiting factor for sulfur utilization at a medium discharge rate.