---
OA_place: publisher
OA_type: hybrid
PlanS_conform: '1'
_id: '20593'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: “Quasi-solid-state” conversion mechanisms using sparingly solvating electrolytes
    (SPSEs) bridge the gap between traditional solid–liquid–solid and solid-state
    sulfur conversion in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Although these terms are
    commonly used, their precise distinctions and impacts on key performance metrics,
    such as rate capability, energy density, and capacity fading, remain poorly understood.
    In this work, we employ operando small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering alongside
    cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) to compare Li–S batteries
    in sparingly solvating and solvating ether-based electrolytes. We find that, unlike
    solvating electrolytes, SPSEs lead to an extended presence of lithium sulfide
    during cycling, coexisting with sulfur at a 50% state of charge and beyond. In
    the charged state, solid sulfur is present in its amorphous form inside the carbon
    black nanopores. These findings indicate that the limited solubility confines
    polysulfides in regions near the carbon surface, where these polysulfides enable
    conversion between the coexisting solid discharge and charge product.
acknowledgement: This work was funded by the European Union (ERC-2022-STG, SOLIDCON,
  101078271). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only
  and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research
  Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority
  can be held responsible for them. TEM measurements were carried out on a JEOL JEM
  F200 TEM equipped with an energy filter funded by the FFG (grant number 37120633).
  The authors thank Klara Neumayr, Ayca Senol Güngör, and Lorenz Gruber for valuable
  discussions and support with lab work. N.K. thanks Oskar Paris from Montanuniversität
  Leoben for providing access to the gas sorption analyzer.
article_processing_charge: Yes (in subscription journal)
article_type: letter_note
author:
- first_name: Pronoy
  full_name: Dutta, Pronoy
  last_name: Dutta
- first_name: Jean Marc
  full_name: Von Mentlen, Jean Marc
  last_name: Von Mentlen
- first_name: Soumyadip
  full_name: Mondal, Soumyadip
  id: d25d21ef-dc8d-11ea-abe3-ec4576307f48
  last_name: Mondal
- first_name: Nikolaos
  full_name: Kostoglou, Nikolaos
  last_name: Kostoglou
- first_name: Bodo D.
  full_name: Wilts, Bodo D.
  last_name: Wilts
- first_name: Stefan Alexander
  full_name: Freunberger, Stefan Alexander
  id: A8CA28E6-CE23-11E9-AD2D-EC27E6697425
  last_name: Freunberger
  orcid: 0000-0003-2902-5319
- first_name: Gregor A.
  full_name: Zickler, Gregor A.
  last_name: Zickler
- first_name: Christian
  full_name: Prehal, Christian
  last_name: Prehal
citation:
  ama: 'Dutta P, Von Mentlen JM, Mondal S, et al. Bridging solution and solid-state
    mechanism: Confined quasi-solid-state conversion in Li–S batteries. <i>ACS Energy
    Letters</i>. 2025;10:5722-5732. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093">10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093</a>'
  apa: 'Dutta, P., Von Mentlen, J. M., Mondal, S., Kostoglou, N., Wilts, B. D., Freunberger,
    S. A., … Prehal, C. (2025). Bridging solution and solid-state mechanism: Confined
    quasi-solid-state conversion in Li–S batteries. <i>ACS Energy Letters</i>. American
    Chemical Society. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093">https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093</a>'
  chicago: 'Dutta, Pronoy, Jean Marc Von Mentlen, Soumyadip Mondal, Nikolaos Kostoglou,
    Bodo D. Wilts, Stefan Alexander Freunberger, Gregor A. Zickler, and Christian
    Prehal. “Bridging Solution and Solid-State Mechanism: Confined Quasi-Solid-State
    Conversion in Li–S Batteries.” <i>ACS Energy Letters</i>. American Chemical Society,
    2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093">https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093</a>.'
  ieee: 'P. Dutta <i>et al.</i>, “Bridging solution and solid-state mechanism: Confined
    quasi-solid-state conversion in Li–S batteries,” <i>ACS Energy Letters</i>, vol.
    10. American Chemical Society, pp. 5722–5732, 2025.'
  ista: 'Dutta P, Von Mentlen JM, Mondal S, Kostoglou N, Wilts BD, Freunberger SA,
    Zickler GA, Prehal C. 2025. Bridging solution and solid-state mechanism: Confined
    quasi-solid-state conversion in Li–S batteries. ACS Energy Letters. 10, 5722–5732.'
  mla: 'Dutta, Pronoy, et al. “Bridging Solution and Solid-State Mechanism: Confined
    Quasi-Solid-State Conversion in Li–S Batteries.” <i>ACS Energy Letters</i>, vol.
    10, American Chemical Society, 2025, pp. 5722–32, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093">10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093</a>.'
  short: P. Dutta, J.M. Von Mentlen, S. Mondal, N. Kostoglou, B.D. Wilts, S.A. Freunberger,
    G.A. Zickler, C. Prehal, ACS Energy Letters 10 (2025) 5722–5732.
date_created: 2025-11-02T23:01:35Z
date_published: 2025-10-25T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-12-01T15:11:44Z
day: '25'
ddc:
- '540'
department:
- _id: StFr
doi: 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093
external_id:
  isi:
  - '001600396000001'
file:
- access_level: open_access
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  date_created: 2025-11-04T07:56:19Z
  date_updated: 2025-11-04T07:56:19Z
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file_date_updated: 2025-11-04T07:56:19Z
fulldoi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02093
has_accepted_license: '1'
intvolume: '        10'
isi: 1
language:
- iso: eng
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
month: '10'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
page: 5722-5732
publication: ACS Energy Letters
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 2380-8195
publication_status: published
publisher: American Chemical Society
quality_controlled: '1'
related_material:
  link:
  - relation: software
    url: ' https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17144229'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: 'Bridging solution and solid-state mechanism: Confined quasi-solid-state conversion
  in Li–S batteries'
tmp:
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  name: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0)
  short: CC BY (4.0)
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 10
year: '2025'
...