Tuning the Conversion Mechanisms of Metal-Sulfur Batteries: From Nanostructures to Single Atoms
Abstract
Rechargeable metal-sulfur (M-S) batteries (Li, Na, K, Al, Zn, Mg, Ca, Cu, Fe‑based) are promising alternatives to conventional lithium‑ion batteries, featuring high energy density and cost‑effectiveness. However, their advancement is severely hindered by the sluggish sulfur conversion kinetics and the notorious polysulfide shuttle effect of the sulfur cathode. Thus, rational design of catalytic cathode materials is pivotal to realizing the practical application of M-S batteries. This review first evaluates the practical viability of various M-S batteries, further delineates the chemical behavior and transformation processes of sulfide intermediates, and summarizes the theoretical methodologies for probing sulfur cathode conversion chemistry. Notably, three classic heterogeneous catalysis mechanisms, namely Langmuir-Hinshelwood, Eley-Rideal, and Mars-van Krevelen, are innovatively utilized to interpret the cathode catalytic behavior in M-S batteries for the first time. Following this, it elaborates on the rational design principles targeting the supports and active sites of catalytic cathode materials, ranging from nanostructured engineering to single-atom catalysis, aiming to further reinforce sulfur immobilization and accelerate redox reaction kinetics across various M-S systems. Furthermore, it highlights advances in characterization strategies for guiding rational material design and elucidating precise electrocatalytic mechanisms, and ultimately prospects the pivotal…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Developing high safety Li-metal anodes for future high-energy Li-metal batteries: strategies and perspectives
- Structure and Energy Transfer in Photosystems of Oxygenic Photosynthesis
- Ground- and Space-Based Gamma-Ray Astronomy
- Energy Functions in De Novo Protein Design: Current Challenges and Future Prospects
- Electronic structure of ions and molecules in solution: a view from modern soft X-ray spectroscopies
- Arising 2D Perovskites for Ionizing Radiation Detection
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.