Li/S

Abstract

AbstractLithium–sulfur batteries are among the most promising energy‐storage devices because of their high charge‐storage capacity, low cost, and the wide availability of sulfur. Thus, it is essential to develop the potential of lithium–sulfur cells as a next‐generation rechargeable energy‐storage technology and transition them into practical battery systems. However, the design of high‐energy‐density lithium–sulfur batteries with long‐term stability has encountered significant challenges due to the intrinsic materials characteristics (e.g. insulating nature of sulfur, irreversible polysulfide relocation, volume change of sulfur, lithium anode degradation, low electrolyte stability, and electrode degradation). Over the past 20 years, efforts to improve the battery performance and chemistry have resulted in new scientific insights, indicating that the electrochemical performance of lithium–sulfur system and its intrinsic materials challenges are further aggravated by several extrinsic technical conditions, including the cell‐fabrication parameters (e.g. the amount of sulfur, electrolyte, and lithium metal used) and the cell‐testing conditions (e.g. operating voltage window, testing temperature, and cycle rates). In order to successfully bring the lithium–sulfur battery technology to the market, we need to focus on developing high‐loading sulfur cathodes under lean electrolyte and controlled excess lithium conditions. However, it has proven extremely challenging to develop a cell that simultaneously satisfies these metrics while also displaying acceptable high electrochemical efficiency and stability. To understand these issues, the fundamental conversion battery chemistry and issues associated with lithium–sulfur system, particularly in terms of the intrinsic materials characteristics and extrinsic technical conditions are discussed in this article.