A review of organic sulfur applications in lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are one of the most promising next-generation batteries due to their ultra-high theoretical energy density and the abundance of sulfur. Organic sulfur cathodes have been extensively studied for their advantages such as no shuttle effect and no self-discharge. In this review, we classify organic sulfur into three categories: traditional sulfurized polyacrylonitrile, conductive polymer-based organosulfur, small molecule organic sulfur, and high-sulfur-content polymers, and summarize their applications in Li–S batteries. Some concepts for designing organosulfur cathodes and their directions are presented. • SPAN applications and modification strategies in lithium-sulfur batteries. • Conductive polymers in lithium-sulfur batteries. • Small molecule organic sulfur in lithium-sulfur batteries. • Some advances in high sulfur content polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]