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Abstract: Due to high energy density, low cost, and nontoxicity, lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered as the most promising candidate to satisfy the requirement from the accelerated development of electric vehicles. However, Li–S batteries are subjected to lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttling due to their high dissolution in liquid electrolyte, resulting in low columbic efficiency and poor cycling performance. Moreover, the Li metal as an indispensable anode of Li–S batteries shows serious safety issues derived from the lithium dendrite formation. The replacement of liquid electrolytes with solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) has been recognized as a fundamental approach to effectively address above problems. In this review, the progress on applying various classes of SSEs including gel, solid‐state polymer, ceramic, and composite electrolytes to solve the issues of Li–S batteries is summarized. The specific capacity of Li–S batteries is effectively improved due to the suppression of LiPSs shuttling by SSEs, while the rate and cycling performance remain relatively poor owing to the limited ionic conductivity and high interfacial resistance. Designing smart electrode/electrolyte integrated architectures, enabling the high ionic transportation pathway and compatible electrode/electrolyte interface, may be an effective way to achieve high performance solid‐state Li–S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbon-sulfur hybrid with pomegranate-like core-shell structure, which demonstrates a high rate performance and relatively high cyclic stability, is obtained through carbonization of a carbon precursor in the presence of a sulfur precursor (FeS2) and a following oxidation of FeS2 to sulfur by HNO3. Such a structure effectively protects the sulfur and leaves enough buffer space after Fe3+ removal and, at the same time, has an interconnected conductive network. The capacity of the obtained hybrid is 450 mA h g−1 under the current density of 5 C. This work provides a simple strategy to design and prepare various high-performance carbon-sulfur hybrids for lithium-sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are catching intensive worldwide attention for the outstanding energy density, low‐cost, and nontoxic nature of sulfur. However, the very limited lifespan and rate performance of Li–S systems originating from dissolution and diffusion of long‐chain polysulfides in liquid electrolytes, as well as the intrinsic poor conductivity of sulfur, severely hinder their practical application. Herein, an electrospinning and subsequent dipping and drying method is developed here to fabricate a duplex architecture consisting of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layer and BaTiO3 (BTO)‐decorated carbon nanofibers (BTO@CNFs), and it is used as a multifunctional interlayer for Li–S batteries. The 3D interwoven CNFs with conductive pathways for both electrons and ions can enhance the contact between polysulfides with BTO nanoparticles and promote the reuse of inactivated sulfur. Additionally, the ferroelectric BTO nanoparticles adhered on CNFs can realize a highly robust trapping to polysulfides via the extremely polar interaction. Moreover, the surface rGO layer can act as a textural barrier to intercept the shuttling polysulfides. Consequently, the modified Li–S batteries with the rGO/BTO@CNF interlayer deliver superior electrochemical performance of 865 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.3 C and a rate capability of 672 mAh g−1 at 3 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]