Li2 S- or S-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

While members of the Li-S battery research community are becoming more conscious of the practical testing parameters, the widespread commercialization of S-based batteries is still far from realization. Particularly, the metallic Li used as the anode poses potential safety and cycle stability concerns. Alternatively, other S-battery configurations without a Li anode, i.e., lithium-ion, Li₂ S, or S batteries, do not suffer from the same safety concerns and can possibly serve as better methods to bring room-temperature S-based battery technologies to industry. However, whether Li₂ S or S will be used as the initiating cathode material remains unclear as each offers their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Here, both S and Li₂ S as cathodes are briefly discussed and the key benefits of Li₂ S are highlighted.

Keywords: Li-S batteries; Li2S cathodes; lithium-ion sulfur batteries; lithium-metal batteries; polysulfides (PSs).