Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have garnered immense interest due to their potential to surpass the energy densities of state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. However, severe technical problems of polysulfide dissolution and shuttle effect still prohibit the commercialization of Li-S batteries. This review focuses on the recent advances of polysulfide mediation in conventional Li-S batteries with liquid electrolytes. Simple yet effective solutions to control polysulfide dissolution and shuttling via facile modification of the cathode and the electrolyte are highlighted. The rational design of cathode composition, the use of polysulfide barrier layers, and the selection of electrolyte components are discussed. These strategies offer significant promise to address the challenges and increase the viability of the large-scale application of Li-S batteries.