SECONDARY BATTERIES – LITHIUM RECHARGEABLE SYSTEMS | Lithium–Sulfur

A battery based on a lithium metal anode and an elemental sulfur cathode has a high theoretical specific energy of 2600 Wh kg−1. Thus, lithium–sulfur (LiS) cells are ideally suited for high-energy applications. In addition, since sulfur is a cheap, abundant, and nontoxic material, LiS cells are more eco-friendly and economical when compared to other secondary batteries. Initially, the LiS cell technology faced several issues, such as the insulating nature of sulfur and the solubility of redox reaction products in the electrolytes, resulting in poor performance of the battery. Over the past few years the energy density as well as the cycle life of the LiS cells have been dramatically enhanced by resolving most of these difficulties. Since LiS batteries have the potential for application in electric vehicles as well as portable electronics, several research activities are pursued to enhance the electrochemical performance levels. By entering the commercial market with the offer of providing more power per weight than its competitors, LiS cells are poised to be one of the most remarkable achievements in battery technology in the near future.