Recent Progress in Liquid Electrolyte-Based Li–S Batteries: Shuttle Problem and Solutions

Abstract

Lithium sulfur batteries (LSBs) are among the most promising candidates for next-generation high-energy lithium batteries. However, the polysulfide shuttle effect remains a key obstacle in the practical application of LSBs. Liquid electrolytes, which transport lithium ions between electrodes, play a vital role in battery performances due to the dissolution of polysulfides, and recently, researchers have shown that LSB performances can be greatly improved through the confinement of polysulfides within cathodes. Inspired by this, growing efforts are been devoted to the suppression of the shuttle effect in LSBs by using liquid electrolytes, such as controlling the solubility of solvents and intercepting shuttle reactions. In this review, the design of applicable electrolytes and their functionality on the shuttle effect will be outlined and discussed. In addition, perspectives regarding the future research of LSBs will be presented.

Keywords

Li–S battery / Shuttle effect / Electrolyte additive / Solid-state electrolyte

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(51772315)

National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFB0905400)

Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(15DZ2281200)