Main Challenges
1. Stability and Safety Concerns
- Lithium Metal Instability: Lithium metal used in the anode reacts easily, posing significant safety risks due to its reactivity and potential flammability.
- Polysulfide Shuttle Effect: The migration of polysulfide compounds from the sulfur cathode to the anode can lead to capacity fade and battery degradation over cycles.
2. Material Limitations
- Sulfur Cathode Issues: The sulfur cathode undergoes significant volumetric expansion during charge/discharge cycles, resulting in poor electrical conductivity and limited utilization.
- Cycle Life: Li-S batteries exhibit a short cycle life due to material degradation and the shuttle effect.
3. Market Competition
- Competing Technologies: Advanced lithium-ion chemistries (e.g., NMC, LNMO), sodium-ion batteries, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries pose strong competition in various markets, challenging Li-S adoption.
4. Functional Challenges
- State-of-Charge Monitoring: Accurate monitoring of the battery’s state of charge is difficult due to the complex reactions involved, which complicates battery management systems.
To overcome these challenges, researchers are exploring novel materials and designs, as well as strategies for stabilizing the lithium anode and mitigating polysulfide shuttling.
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