A renaissance for lithium-sulfur batteries through low-cost, efficient, and sustainable biomass cathodes

Abstract

Although lithium-ion batteries face material sustainability issues, one promising alternative—lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries—suffers from destructive chemical reactions. Recently in Chem, Hou et al. proposed one viable solution: an encapsulating lithium polysulfide electrolyte. We discuss this advance and the potential role of biomass as an alternative sustainable material for Li-S battery cathodes. Although lithium-ion batteries face material sustainability issues, one promising alternative—lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries—suffers from destructive chemical reactions. Recently in Chem, Hou et al. proposed one viable solution: an encapsulating lithium polysulfide electrolyte. We discuss this advance and the potential role of biomass as an alternative sustainable material for Li-S battery cathodes. An encapsulating lithium-polysulfide electrolyte for practical lithium–sulfur batteriesHou et al.ChemJanuary 21, 2022In BriefAn encapsulating LiPS electrolyte (EPSE) is proposed for suppression of parasitic reactions based on a nano-heterogeneous solvation structure design of LiPSs. In the EPSE with di-isopropyl sulfide (DIPS) as a co-solvent, soluble LiPSs are encapsulated into two concentric solvent shells with different solvating power and reduction stability. Reduction-stable DIPS in the outer solvent shell significantly suppresses the parasitic reactions between encapsulated LiPSs and lithium metal. This work opens up new frontiers in electrolyte engineering toward long-cycling lithium–sulfur batteries. Full-Text PDF