Advanced materials for stable Li-S and Li-organic batteries

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are playing an increasingly important role in our everyday life. LIBs are powering consumer electronics (e.g., cameras, smartphones, laptops), electric vehicles and large-scale industrial facilities. Also, LIBs are important energy storage systems for renewable energies like solar and wind. With respect to conventional LIBs, typically, the cathode material is LiCoO2 and the anode material is graphite. However, the upper limit of the conventional LIBs cannot meet the long-term needs of the rapidly developing society, for instance, extended-range of electric vehicles. In this regard, next-generation battery types are highly needed to build up a more sustainable society. Li-S batteries, with high theoretical capacity of 1675 mA h g–1 and high theoretical energy density of 2600 W h kg–1, is a promising candidate for next-generation high-energy batteries. Also, the low cost and abundance of sulphur is an attracting advantage for Li-S batteries. In order to achieve the high capacity and high energy density of Li-S batteries, two severe problems should be overcome, that is, the poor electrical conductivity, as well as the dissolution and shuttling of the intermediate products of lithium polysulphides.