Recent Progress in Quasi/All-Solid-State Electrolytes for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur batteries have received increasing research interest due to their superior theoretical capacity, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. However, the commercial realization of lithium–sulfur batteries faces critical obstacles, such as the significant volume change of sulfur cathodes over the de/lithiation processes, uncontrollable shuttle effects of polysulfides, and the lithium dendrite issue. On this basis, the lithium–sulfur battery based on solid-state electrolytes was developed to alleviate the previously mentioned problems. This article aims to provide an overview of the recent progress of solid-state lithium–sulfur batteries related to various kinds of solid-state electrolytes, which mainly include three aspects: the fundamentals and current status of lithium–sulfur solid-state batteries and several adopted solid-state electrolytes involving polymer electrolyte, inorganic solid electrolyte, and hybrid electrolyte. Furthermore, the future perspective for lithium–sulfur solid-state batteries is presented. Finally, this article proposed an initiation for new and practical research activities and paved the way for the design of usable lithium–sulfur solid-state batteries.

A review on “Growth mechanisms and optimization strategies for the interface state of solid‐state lithium‐ion batteries”

“…[76][77][78][79][80][81] For low-molecular-weight polymers and polymers, the mode of ion conduction is similar to that of carbonate-based liquid electrolytes, which mainly occurs through diffusion in the form of solvation. 70,[82][83][84][85][86] It has been reported that the ionic conductivity in crystalline domain of polymer electrolytes is also higher than that in amorphous phase. In crystalline domains, polymer 281 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Ref.…”

“…(4) Electronic conductivity of solid garnet electrolyte. 84,98,[120][121][122] Although the dendrite growth of lithium metal has been known since the 1960s, its potential mechanism still needs to be explored by researchers. In addition to lithium dendrites, the problem of high interface resistance is also an important factor affecting the electrochemical performance of batteries.…”

“…Therefore, the main form of ion conduction is interstage hopping 76–81 . For low‐molecular‐weight polymers and polymers, the mode of ion conduction is similar to that of carbonate‐based liquid electrolytes, which mainly occurs through diffusion in the form of solvation 70,82–86 …”

“…(3) The elastic modulus of grain boundary is too low, which is not conducive to the penetration of lithium metal on the grain boundary/electrode. (4) Electronic conductivity of solid garnet electrolyte 84,98,120–122 …”

Progress and Prospect of Practical Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Based on Solid-Phase Conversion

“…Nowadays, all solid-state Li-S batteries have caught comparable attention by virtue of the following advantages: 1. the elimination of polysulfides shuttling; 2. the high mechanical modulus for inhibition of the lithium dendrites; 3. significantly improved incombustibility and safety. Generally, the SSEs in Li-S systems include gel/solid polymer electrolytes, inorganic-based solid electrolytes, and hybrid electrolytes, each of which possesses its strengths and weaknesses [203,204]. Note that even coordinating with SSEs, the conventional solid-liquid-solid conversion may also occur because of the formation and migration of highly soluble polysulfides in some special polymer or hybrid electrolytes [33].…”