Review on High‐Loading and High‐Energy Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

TLDR

Lithium–sulfur batteries offer high energy density, low cost, and environmental benefits, yet their practical use is limited by short cycle life and low sulfur utilization, especially at loadings above 3–5 mg cm⁻², prompting extensive research to overcome these barriers. This review surveys recent advances in high‑sulfur‑loading Li–S batteries driven by hierarchical, multiscale design principles and proposes a framework to guide future development. It discusses interfacial reactions, mesoscale assembly strategies, and novel cathode, anode, and separator architectures that collectively enable the hierarchical design for high‑loading performance.

Abstract

Abstract Owing to high specific energy, low cost, and environmental friendliness, lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries hold great promise to meet the increasing demand for advanced energy storage beyond portable electronics, and to mitigate environmental problems. However, the application of Li–S batteries is challenged by several obstacles, including their short life and low sulfur utilization, which become more serious when sulfur loading is increased to the practically accepted level above 3–5 mg cm −2 . More and more efforts have been made recently to overcome the barriers toward commercially viable Li–S batteries with a high sulfur loading. This review highlights the recent progress in high‐sulfur‐loading Li–S batteries enabled by hierarchical design principles at multiscale. Particularly, basic insights into the interfacial reactions, strategies for mesoscale assembly, unique architectures, and configurational innovation in the cathode, anode, and separator are under specific concerns. Hierarchy in the multiscale design is proposed to guide the future development of high‐sulfur‐loading Li–S batteries.