Rechargeable metal–sulfur
batteries with low-cost, soil-rich
elemental sulfur as the cathode have attracted considerable attention,
as they are crucial for working at room temperature due to their high
energy density, high output efficiency, and convenient operation.
However, the performance is limited by the low utilization of sulfur,
severe volume expansion, and shuttle effect of polysulfides. To address
these issues, a key strategy is to design carbon materials with excellent
conductivity and high specific surface area, preferably with high
chemical affinity and high sulfur loading. In this Review, the fundamentals
of room-temperature metal–sulfur batteries and the rational
design of carbon sulfur carriers are presented, going into the relationship
between carbon sulfur hosts and battery performance. Recent developments
are highlighted along with potential directions for future research.
This comprehensive review aims to provide guidelines for the design
of carbonaceous sulfur hosts and promising methods for the development
of high-performance room-temperature metal–sulfur battery systems.