Recent Advances in Emerging Non-Lithium Metal-Sulfur Batteries: A Review

Rechargeable non-lithium metal-sulfur batteries (MSBs) have gained tremendous attention because of their merits, including a high theoretical capacity, remarkable energy density, and low cost. However, the detrimental issues encountered by non-lithium MSBs, such as polysulfide shuttle effects, volume expansion and the low electrical conductivity of elemental sulfur, and the serious side reactions between metal anodes and electrolytes, severely restrict their practical applications. To circumvent these issues, numerous effective strategies have been explored and utilized. In this review, the intractable obstacles that prevent the application of non-lithium MSBs are first summarized. Recent pioneering studies on rechargeable non-lithium MSBs are reported and discussed in terms of material design, fabrication methods, and electrochemical performance. The emerging characterization techniques used to reveal the working mechanisms of non-lithium MSBs and the advantages of elaborately designed structures are highlighted. Finally, the remaining issues and possible future areas of research for practical applications are discussed.

Automated summary

Rechargeable non-lithium metal-sulfur batteries face challenges such as polysulfide shuttle effects and serious side reactions between metal anodes and electrolytes, but various strategies have been explored to overcome these issues. Recent studies on non-lithium MSBs have focused on material design, fabrication methods, and electrochemical performance, highlighting the importance of advanced characterization techniques and elaborately designed structures. Discussions on remaining issues and potential future research directions for practical applications are ongoing.