Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, P. R. China.
High & New Technology Research Center, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, P. R. China.
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 Jul;10(19):e2301355. doi: 10.1002/advs.202301355. Epub 2023 Apr 23.
Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have emerged as one of the most attractive alternatives for post-lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density. However, the large-scale application of Li-S batteries remains enormously problematic because of the poor cycling life and safety problems, induced by the low conductivity , severe shuttling effect, poor reaction kinetics, and lithium dendrite formation. In recent studies, catalytic techniques are reported to promote the commercial application of Li-S batteries. Compared with the conventional catalytic sites on host materials, quantum dots (QDs) with ultrafine particle size (<10 nm) can provide large accessible surface area and strong polarity to restrict the shuttling effect, excellent catalytic effect to enhance the kinetics of redox reactions, as well as abundant lithiophilic nucleation sites to regulate Li deposition. In this review, the intrinsic hurdles of S conversion and Li stripping/plating reactions are first summarized. More importantly, a comprehensive overview is provided of inorganic QDs, in improving the efficiency and stability of Li-S batteries, with the strategies including composition optimization, defect and morphological engineering, design of heterostructures, and so forth. Finally, the prospects and challenges of QDs in Li-S batteries are discussed.
锂硫（Li-S）电池作为继锂离子电池之后最具吸引力的储能系统之一，因其超高的理论能量密度而备受关注。然而，由于导电性差、穿梭效应严重、反应动力学差和锂枝晶形成等问题，Li-S 电池的大规模应用仍然存在巨大的问题。在最近的研究中，催化技术被报道可以促进 Li-S 电池的商业化应用。与传统的载体材料上的催化位点相比，具有超小粒径（<10nm）的量子点（QDs）可以提供大的可及表面积和强极性，以限制穿梭效应，优异的催化效果以增强氧化还原反应的动力学，以及丰富的亲锂成核位点来调节 Li 的沉积。在这篇综述中，首先总结了 S 转化和 Li 剥离/电镀反应的内在障碍。更重要的是，全面概述了无机 QDs 在提高 Li-S 电池效率和稳定性方面的应用，包括组成优化、缺陷和形态工程、异质结构设计等策略。最后，讨论了 QDs 在 Li-S 电池中的前景和挑战。
