Pursuit of advanced batteries with high-energy density is one of the eternal goals for electrochemists. Over the past decades, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have gained world-wide popularity due to their high theoretical energy density and cost effectiveness. However, their road to the market is still full of thorns. Apart from the poor electronic conductivity of sulfur-based cathodes, LSBs involve special multielectron reaction mechanisms associated with active soluble lithium polysulfides intermediates. Accordingly, the electrode design and fabrication protocols of LSBs are different from those of traditional lithium ion batteries. This review is aimed at discussing the electrode design/fabrication protocols of LSBs, especially the current problems on various sulfur-based cathodes (such as S, Li 2 S, Li 2 S x catholyte, organopolysulfides) and corresponding solutions. Different fabrication methods of sulfur-based cathodes are introduced and their corresponding bullet points to achieve high-quality cathodes are highlighted. In addition, the challenges and solutions of sulfur-based cathodes including active material content, mass loading, conductive agent/binder, compaction density, electrolyte/sulfur ratio, and current collector are summarized and rational strategies are refined to address these issues. Finally, the future prospects on sulfur-based cathodes and LSBs are proposed.

The integration of Li2S6 within a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based polymer electrolyte is demonstrated to improve the polymer electrolyte's ionic conductivity because the strong interplay between O2−(PEO) and Li+ from Li2S6 reduces the crystalline volume within the PEO. The Li/electrolyte interface is stabilized by the in situ formation of an ultra‐thin Li2S/Li2S2 layer via the reaction between Li2S6 and lithium metal, which increases the ionic transport at the interface and suppresses lithium dendrite growth. A symmetric Li/Li cell with the Li2S6‐integrated composite electrolyte has excellent cyclability and a high critical current density of 0.9 mA cm−2 at 40 °C. Impressive electrochemical performance is demonstrated with all‐solid‐state Li/LiFePO4 and high‐voltage Li/LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 cells at 40 °C.

Transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXenes), a burgeoning group of 2 D layer‐structure compounds, have multiple merits, such as high electrical conductivity, tunable layer structure, small band gap, and functionalized redox‐active surface, and are receiving significant attention as one of the most promising class of energy storage materials. The synthesis methods, structural configuration, and surface chemistry of MXenes directly influence their performance. This Minireview focuses on interfacial structure design and functionalization of MXenes and MXene‐based energy storage materials and the effect of structural configuration and surface chemistry on their electrochemical performance. Additionally, the structure–property relationships between interfacial structure, functional group, interlayer spacing, and the corresponding energy storage performance are summarized in detail. Finally, light is shed on the perspectives for the future research on advanced MXene‐based energy storage materials including scientific and technical challenges.

The integration of Li 2 S 6 within ap oly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymer electrolyte is demonstrated to improve the polymer electrolytesi onic conductivity because the strong interplay between O 2À(PEO) and Li + from Li 2 S 6 reduces the crystalline volume within the PEO.T he Li/ electrolyte interface is stabilized by the in situ formation of an ultra-thin Li 2 S/Li 2 S 2 layer via the reaction between Li 2 S 6 and lithium metal, which increases the ionic transport at the interface and suppresses lithium dendrite growth. Asymmetric Li/Li cell with the Li 2 S 6 -integrated composite electrolyte has excellent cyclability and ah igh critical current density of 0.9 mA cm À2 at 40 8 8C. Impressive electrochemical performance is demonstrated with all-solid-state Li/LiFePO 4 and highvoltage Li/LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 cells at 40 8 8C.

Development of low-cost, high-efficiency, and environmentally benign adsorbents for mercury removal is of significant importance for environmental remediation. Herein, we report a novel porous puffed rice carbon (PRC) with co-implanted metal iron and sulfur, forming a high-quality PRC/Fe@S composite as a high-efficiency adsorbent for mercury removal from aqueous solution. The in situ-formed Fe nanoparticles in PRC are strongly coupled with sulfur via a supercritical CO 2 fluid approach and dispersed homogeneously in the cross-linked hierarchical porous architecture. The pore formation mechanism of Fe on PRC is also proposed. The optimized PRC/Fe@S composite offers superior selective affinity, high removal efficiency, and ultrahigh adsorption capacity of up to 738.0 mg g −1 . It is demonstrated that the hierarchical porous carbon in the PRC/Fe@S composite not only acts as a framework to stabilize and disperse Fe nanoparticles but also provides abundant pores and voids for absorbing Hg(II) from aqueous solution. More importantly, the absorbed Hg(II) can be reduced to Hg(0) by Fe and further chemically immobilized by sulfur. The enhanced coupled effect is discussed and proposed. Therefore, an innovative adsorption mechanism of adsorption−reduction−immobilization is proposed, which offers a new prospect in developing high-efficiency carbon-based adsorbents in environmental remediation.