Improving lithium-sulfur battery performance by protecting lithium anode with Li2S

Lithium-sulfur batteries have become a research hotspot in the field of energy storage due to their high capacity and low cost. However, lithium metal anodes' short cycle life and safety performance severely limit their commercial application. Here, we used an “in situ” method to form a stable artificial solid electrolyte interface on the surface of the metal lithium, which can control the electrochemical behavior of the interface between the lithium metal and the electrolyte and inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites. The electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries with protected lithium anode is greatly enhanced. The discharge capacity remains at 1519.6 mAhg⁻¹ after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. In addition, the rate capability of lithium-sulfur batteries is also significantly improved, delivering a reversible capacity of 685.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 C.