Enhancement in Electrochemical Performance of Lithium‐Sulfur Cells through Sulfur Encapsulation in Hollow Carbon Nanospheres Coated with Ultra‐Thin Aluminum Fluoride Layer

New Scalable Sulfur Cathode Containing Specifically Designed Polysulfide Adsorbing Materials

Because of its considerable theoretical specific capacity and energy density, lithium-sulfur battery technology holds great potential to replace lithium-ion battery technology. However, a versatile, low-cost, and easily scalable bulk synthesis method is essential for translating bench-level development to large-scale production. This paper reports the design and synthesis of a new scalable sulfur cathode, S@CNT/PANI/PPyNT/TiO2 (BTX). The rationally chosen cathode components suppress the migration of polysulfide intermediates via chemical interactions, enhance redox kinetics, and provide electrical conductivity to sulfur, rendering outstanding long-term cycling performance and strong initial specific capacity in terms of electrochemical performance. This cathode's cell demonstrated an initial specific capacity of 740 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C (with a capacity decay rate of 0.08% per cycle after 450 cycles).

Approaches to Combat the Polysulfide Shuttle Phenomenon in Li–S Battery Technology

Lithium–sulfur battery (LSB) technology has tremendous prospects to substitute lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology due to its high energy density. However, the escaping of polysulfide intermediates (produced during the redox reaction process) from the cathode structure is the primary reason for rapid capacity fading. Suppressing the polysulfide shuttle (PSS) is a viable solution for this technology to move closer to commercialization and supersede the established LIB technology. In this review, we have analyzed the challenges faced by LSBs and outlined current methods and materials used to address these problems. We conclude that in order to further pioneer LSBs, it is necessary to address these essential features of the sulfur cathode: superior electrical conductivity to ensure faster redox reaction kinetics and high discharge capacity, high pore volume of the cathode host to maximize sulfur loading/utilization, and polar PSS-resistive materials to anchor and suppress the migration of polysulfides, which can be developed with the use of nanofabrication and combinations of the PSS-suppressive qualities of each component. With these factors addressed, our world will be able to forge ahead with the development of LSBs on a larger scale—for the efficiency of energy systems in technology advancement and potential benefits to outweigh the costs and performance decay.

MnO2-Coated Dual Core–Shell Spindle-Like Nanorods for Improved Capacity Retention of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The emerging need for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries has motivated many researchers to investigate different designs. However, the polysulfide shuttle effect, which is the result of dissolution of many intermediate polysulfides in electrolyte, has still remained unsolved. In this study, we have designed a sulfur-filled dual core–shell spindle-like nanorod structure coated with manganese oxide (S@HCNR@MnO2) to achieve a high-performance cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries. The cathode showed an initial discharge capacity of 1661 mA h g−1 with 80% retention of capacity over 70 cycles at a 0.2C rate. Furthermore, compared with the nanorods without any coating (S@HCNR), the MnO2-coated material displayed superior rate capability, cycling stability, and Coulombic efficiency. The synergistic effects of the nitrogen-doped hollow carbon host and the MnO2 second shell are responsible for the improved electrochemical performance of this nanostructure.