electrochem Review Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Advances and Trends Claudia V. Lopez, Charini P. Maladeniya and Rhett C. Smith * Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA;
[email protected] (C.V.L.);
[email protected] (C.P.M.) * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 21 April 2020; Accepted: 5 June 2020; Published: 1 July 2020 Abstract: A review with 132 references. Societal and regulatory pressures are pushing industry towards more sustainable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, while the growing popularity of portable cordless electronic devices continues. These trends necessitate the ability to store large amounts of power efficiently in rechargeable batteries that should also be affordable and long-lasting. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have recently gained renewed interest for their potential low cost and 1 high energy density, potentially over 2600 Wh kg− . The current review will detail the most recent advances in early 2020. The focus will be on reports published since the last review on Li-S batteries. This review is meant to be helpful for beginners as well as useful for those doing research in the field, and will delineate some of the cutting-edge adaptations of many avenues that are being pursued to improve the performance and safety of Li-S batteries. Keywords: lithium-sulfur batteries; polysulfide; cathode materials; high sulfur materials Review 1. IntroductionLithium-Sulfur Batteries: Advances and Trends Claudia V. Lopez, Charini P. Maladeniya and Rhett C. Smith * 1.1. General OperationDepartmentof of Chemistry, Lithium-Sulfur Clemson University, (Li-S)Clemson, SC Batteries 29634, USA;
[email protected] (C.V.L.);
[email protected] (C.P.M.) Lithium-sulfur* Correspondence: (Li-S)
[email protected] batteries have emerged as preeminent future battery technologies in large Received: 21 April 2020; Accepted: 5 June 2020; Published: date part due to their impressive theoretical specific energy density of 2600 W h kg 1.