Recent Advances and Applications Toward Emerging Lithium–Sulfur Batteries:Working Principles and Opportunities

Lithium–sulfur(Li-S)batteries have been considered as promising candidates for large-scale high energy density devices due to the potentially high energy density,low cost,and more pronounced ecological compatibility.However,the complex Li-S conversion reactions,unsatisfactory battery performance,and unsafe metallic Li anode restrict the development of Li-S batteries to achieve commercialization.This review mainly focuses on three aspects which are the remaining challenges,recent advances,and applications in Li-S batteries.Firstly,this review portrays Li-S conversion chemistry involving the multi-step and multi-electron reaction mechanism,as well as the remaining challenges.Then,the scientific strategies and very recent advances of the cathode,electrolyte,lithium anode,and other constituent parts of Li-S batteries are detailly summed up,as well as their advantages and limitations.For the sake of promoting the Li-S batteries practicalization,next section is primarily concerned with problems,the corresponding solutions,and application scenarios of practical pouch cells.Finally,the important findings as guidelines and some future directions as trends for developing emerging Li-S batteries are briefly summarized.