Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are emerging as a promising alternative to LIBs due to their high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh/kg. However, the polysulfide shuttle effect remains a major bottleneck, causing rapid capacity fade. Recent advancements in electrolyte additives like LiNO3 and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) have shown remarkable efficacy in suppressing polysulfide dissolution, improving Coulombic efficiency to >99%. These additives form stable solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) on the lithium anode, reducing capacity loss to <0.05% per cycle over 1000 cycles.
The development of multifunctional additives such as fluorinated ethers has further enhanced Li-S battery performance. These additives not only mitigate polysulfide shuttling but also improve electrolyte wettability on sulfur cathodes, increasing sulfur utilization from <70% to >90%. Additionally, they enable stable operation at low temperatures (-20°C), where conventional electrolytes fail due to increased viscosity and reduced ionic conductivity (<10^-4 S/cm).
Recent studies have explored the use of redox mediators like organosulfur compounds (e.g., tetrathiafulvalene) to accelerate sulfur redox kinetics during charge-discharge cycles. These mediators reduce overpotentials by up to 200 mV, enabling higher power densities (>500 W/kg). Furthermore, they enhance the reversibility of sulfur conversion reactions, extending cycle life beyond 2000 cycles at C/2 rates while maintaining >80% capacity retention.
Environmental considerations are also driving research into bio-derived additives such as lignin derivatives and cellulose nanocrystals. These materials are not only sustainable but also exhibit excellent compatibility with sulfur cathodes, reducing electrolyte decomposition rates by >50%. Life cycle analyses suggest that Li-S batteries with bio-additives could achieve a carbon footprint reduction of >30% compared to LIBs.
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