Research Progress of Sulfur Cathode Catalytic Conversions for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Authors

Qin-jun SHAO, 1. Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
Jian CHEN, 1. Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Jian CHEN(chenjian@dicp.ac.cn)

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of sulfur (S) takes place through multistep reactions when S is used as a cathode material. The complete discharge of S to form final product lithium sulfide (Li₂S) is a two-electron reaction. The formation of low-order lithium polysulfides (LiPS) needs to overcome certain energy barriers. And the reduction of Li₂S₂ to Li₂S is the rate-limited step. The reaction kinetic of sulfur cathode is the critical key to determine the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries, such as specific energy, specific power and low temperature performance, etc. Accelerating the rate-limited step kinetics of sulfur cathodes can promote the conversion of soluble Li₂S₄ to insoluble Li₂S₂/Li₂S, contributing to suppressed or eliminated “shuttle effect”. Recently, there are lots of transition metal oxides, sulfides, carbides, nitrides, phosphate, single atoms and redox electron mediators being applied in the preparations of sulfur cathodes, which improve the electrochemical performances and cycle stabilities. However, detailed mechanism of catalytic reaction is not completely clear. This review focuses on the functional and catalytic mechanisms of those metal compounds towards polysulfides, summarizes the recent research progress, and prospects the development and ongoing research of sulfur cathodes.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

lithium-sulfur batteries, sulfur cathodes, catalytic conversions

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.200654

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2020-10-28

Online Available Date

2020-10-28

Revised Date

2020-09-08

Received Date

2020-08-03

Recommended Citation

Qin-jun SHAO, Jian CHEN. Research Progress of Sulfur Cathode Catalytic Conversions for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2020 , 26(5): 694-715.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.200654
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol26/iss5/3