Interface Engineering Strategies for Shuttle Mitigation in Alkali Metal–Sulfur Batteries: A Comparative Review from Li–S to Na–S and K–S Systems

Rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur (M-S) batteries, including Li/Na/K-S chemistries, have the potential to utilize abundant and low-cost sulfur cathodes yet offer high theoretical energy densities. However, their practical electrochemical performance is fundamentally limited by the polysulfide shuttle effect. This challenge is particularly exacerbated in Na-S and K-S systems owing to larger metal-ion radii, weaker solvation energies, slower redox kinetics, and greater electrolyte-electrode incompatibilities compared to Li-S batteries. This review presents a comparative analysis of interface engineering strategies designed to suppress the shuttle effect across these three systems. Following a summary of sulfur…

• CA
  China Association for Science and Technology
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 52371131