Catalytic Effects of Electrodes and Electrolytes in Metal–Sulfur Batteries: Progress and Prospective

Metal–sulfur (M–S) batteries are promising energy-storage devices due to their advantages such as large energy density and the low cost of the raw materials. However, M–S batteries suffer from many drawbacks. Endowing the electrodes and electrolytes with the proper catalytic activity is crucial to improve the electrochemical properties of M–S batteries. With regard to the S cathodes, advanced electrode materials with enhanced electrocatalytic effects can capture polysulfides and accelerate electrochemical conversion and, as for the metal anodes, the proper electrode materials can provide active sites for metal deposition to reduce the deposition potential barrier and control the electroplating or stripping process. Moreover, an advanced electrolyte with desirable design can catalyze electrochemical reactions on the cathode and anode in high-performance M–S batteries. In this review, recent progress pertaining to the design of advanced electrode materials and electrolytes with the proper catalytic effects is summarized. The current progress of S cathodes and metal anodes in different types of M–S batteries are discussed and future development directions are described. The objective is to provide a comprehensive review on the current state-of-the-art S cathodes and metal anodes in M–S batteries and research guidance for future development of this important class of batteries.