Recent progress towards the diverse practical applications of Lithium-sulfur batteries

Abstract

Rechargeable Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have garnered significant attention as promising alternatives to traditional Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical energy density, lower cost of raw materials, enhanced safety features, and reduced environmental footprint. However, the practical application of LSBs faces significant challenges due to several issues such as poor electrical conductivity and substantial volumetric variations of the sulfur cathode, polysulfide shuttle effect, and limited practical energy density. This review explores the recent advancements aimed at mitigating these issues, with a particular focus on addressing some diverse practical factors such as temperature resilience, extended shelf-life, enhanced safety, and flexibility in addition to considerations like rapid charging, long life span, and scalability for widespread commercialization of LSBs. The review also outlines the challenges and future perspectives of the development of practical LSBs. The aim of the review is to highlight the versatility that LSBs can bring to the energy transition sector and the recent progress that can take LSBs closer to their practical implementations. Ultimately, this review seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on the potential of LSBs and encourage further research and development efforts to facilitate their integration into the evolving landscape of global energy storage systems.