Exploration of the Unique Structural Chemistry of Sulfur Cathode for High‐Energy Rechargeable Beyond‐Li Batteries

Abstract

The increased demand for energy has prompted users to seek alternative energy storage devices. Post‐Li‐ion battery chemistries have been considered potential contenders for the development of next‐generation battery technologies. The high specific capacity (≈1675 mAh g−1) and high natural abundance (≈953 ppm) of sulfur provide opportunities to meet the rigorous requirements of the market's demands, such as high energy density and low cost. When combined with a high capacity metal anode (e.g., Na ≈ 1165 mAh g−1, Mg ≈ 2205 mAh g−1, and Al ≈2980 mAh g−1), it leads to high energy density that can outperform the existing battery technologies, including high‐energy Li‐ion batteries. Despite the unique attributes of the sulfur‐based battery system, it remains in infancy owing to the complex reaction chemistry of sulfur cathode, and the level of complexity increases with an increase in valency of metal ions. This review summarizes the unique aspects of a sulfur cathode essential to stabilizing sulfur cathode‐based high‐energy rechargeable batteries. Furthermore, deeper insight into the electrochemical performance of various metal–sulfur‐based systems has been provided. This review may pave the path for the researchers to accelerate the development of sulfur cathode for post‐Li‐ion batteries.

Understanding the Cathode–Electrolyte Interphase in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…Sulfur cathode has also been employed in various metal-based batteries, such as Li-S, Na-S, and others. [103][104][105][106][107] It has been reported that unstable CEI in these systems can be formed, lowering the overall coulombic efficiency and thus, promoting capacity decay. [108,109] On the other hand, a stable CEI can be formed on sulfur-microporous carbon cathode using fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive in carbonate-based electrolytes.…”

Progress in the development of solid-state electrolytes for reversible room-temperature sodium–sulfur batteries

“…Polysulfide dissolution and its shuttling effect are the leading cause of capacity decay and cycling stability in a liquid electrolyte-based RT-Na-S battery. 46,[161][162][163] Tanibata and co-workers devised a strategy to mitigate the capacity decay in a sulfide-based RT-Na-S system. 125 The investigators utilized the Na 3 PS 4 glass-ceramic solid electrolyte and fabricated an all-solid-state RT-Na-S battery.…”

Recent advances in electrospun fibers based on transition metal oxides for supercapacitor applications: a review

“…The energy storing process of these devices takes place in the electrode-electrolyte interface and has a separate path for electron and ion transport. 13,23 Moreover, in their architecture, these EES devices are made up of two electrodes separated by an electrolyte. Fig.…”