Engineering Strategies for Suppressing the Shuttle Effect in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are supposed to be one of the most potential next-generation batteries owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost. Nevertheless, the shuttle effect of firm multi-step two-electron reaction between sulfur and lithium in liquid electrolyte makes the capacity much smaller than the theoretical value. Many methods were proposed for inhibiting the shuttle effect of polysulfide, improving corresponding redox kinetics and enhancing the integral performance of Li–S batteries. Here, we will comprehensively and systematically summarize the strategies for inhibiting the shuttle effect from all components of Li–S batteries. First, the electrochemical principles/mechanism and origin of the shuttle effect are described in detail. Moreover, the efficient strategies, including boosting the sulfur conversion rate of sulfur, confining sulfur or lithium polysulfides (LPS) within cathode host, confining LPS in the shield layer, and preventing LPS from contacting the anode, will be discussed to suppress the shuttle effect. Then, recent advances in inhibition of shuttle effect in cathode, electrolyte, separator, and anode with the aforementioned strategies have been summarized to direct the further design of efficient materials for Li–S batteries. Finally, we present prospects for inhibition of the LPS shuttle and potential development directions in Li–S batteries.

Synchronous stabilization of Li–S electrodes by a 1T MoS2@AAO functional interlayer

“…In recent years, lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have attracted increasing interest for scientific research and industrial applications owing to the high theoretical capacity (∼1675 mA h g −1 ) and low cost of earth-abundant sulfur. 1–3 However, their practical application has still been impeded owing to some notorious problems of sulfur cathodes and lithium anodes. 4–6 In terms of the cathode, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides in state-of-the-art ether-based electrolytes during the charging/discharging process, the insulating nature of pristine sulfur and its full discharge products (Li 2 S, Li 2 S 2 ), together with the destructive volume expansion of the lithiated cathode, result in a quick decay of the specific capacity and low coulombic efficiency of both coin cells and pouch cell batteries.…”

Multi-heterostructured MXene/NiS2/Co3S4 with S-Vacancies to Promote Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

“…The high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g –1 ) and energy density (2600 Wh kg –1 ), low cost, and pollution-free characteristics of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries make them a promising energy technology. However, the intermediate polysulfides (LiPSs) experience an uncontrollable shuttle effect and slow reaction kinetics, which adversely affects the cycle stability and rate performance of the batteries. , In order to solve these problems, researchers have proposed a large number of strategies, among which separator modification is an effective one since the modification layer can help block polysulfides crossover, and in case a catalytic layer is used, polysulfides conversion can be promoted. At present, a variety of separator modification materials have been reported, including carbon materials, conductive polymers, and metal compound catalysts .…”

Constructing metal telluride-grafted MXene as electron “donor–acceptor” heterostructure for accelerating redox kinetics of high-efficiency Li–S batteries

“…To overcome these deciencies, researchers have dedicated signicant efforts such as preparing conductive sulfur hosts, [14][15][16][17][18] safeguarding the lithium anode, [19][20][21][22] incorporating electrolyte additives, [23][24][25] and applying separator coatings. 26,27 Among these tactics, modifying the PP separator with multifunctional polar materials has emerged as a feasible strategy for physically adsorbing and chemically inhibiting the polysulde shuttle, which can effectively enhance the cycling stability and rate capability of Li-S batteries.…”