Advances and Prospects of 2D Graphene-Based Materials/Hybrids for Lithium Metal-Sulfur Full Battery: From Intrinsic Property to Catalysis Modification

Rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) full batteries hold practical promise for next-generation energy storage system owing to low cost and unparalleled theoretical energy density of 2600 W h kg(-1). However, wide commercialization is severely hampered by the poor conductivity of S/Li2S, worrisome polysulfide shuttling effect, sluggish multistep reaction kinetics, and uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth. 2D materials show the advantages in suppressing polysulfide shuttling and boosting lithium diffusion kinetics through rational modifications of surface chemistry and nanostructure design, greatly enhancing battery performances. In this review, the recent developments of 2D graphene-based materials in propelling the conversion/plating kinetics of Li-S full batteries are highlighted from intrinsic conductive property to adsorption and catalysis modifications. Specifically, with the functionalization of the pore morphology and heteroatom/metal atom doping in the pristine/hybrid matrix, the adsorption ability and the lithium diffusion kinetics are significantly enhanced in both cathodic and anodic side, so that the interconversion kinetics of sulfur species are propelled to inhibit polysulfide shuttling and lithium-ion flux is homogenized to realize uniform deposition without any dendrite growth. Furthermore, challenges and opportunities for future fully development of Li-S batteries based on 2D graphene-based materials are prospected from interfacial mechanisms at the atomic/molecular level to large-scale production.

Automated summary

This review highlights the recent developments of 2D graphene-based materials in propelling the conversion/plating kinetics of Li-S full batteries, enhancing battery performances through rational modifications of surface chemistry and nanostructure design, and inhibiting polysulfide shuttling and lithium dendrite growth.