Crystal engineering strategies for advanced electrocatalysts in lithium-sulfur batteries

Abstract

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have captured considerable interest from both academia and industry due to their exceptional energy density. Nevertheless, the inherent sluggish redox kinetics of sulfur species and the shuttle effect instigated by lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) have impeded the progress of LSBs, severely compromising their overall performance. The application of catalytic materials is deemed a promising approach to enhance these kinetics. In recent years, the manipulation of the crystal lattice of catalysts has been demonstrated to enhance their catalytic performance. Given the lack of comprehensive overviews on the development of this strategy and the concomitant performance optimization techniques, we propose a crystal engineering strategy for electrocatalysts in lithium-sulfur batteries and review the relevant research progress. The crystal engineering strategy we proposed for electrocatalysts in lithium-sulfur batteries comprises the following four aspects: (1) Phase transition: alterations in atomic configurations; (2) Crystalline and amorphous states: disorder of atomic arrangements; (3) Lattice distortion: optimization of lattice parameters; (4) Preferential crystal facet exposure: variations among crystal faces. Finally, we discuss the challenges and obstacles encountered in implementing this strategy. This review aims to guide future research efforts toward optimizing LSBs performance through advanced crystal engineering techniques.