Research Progress toward Room Temperature Sodium Sulfur Batteries: A Review

Abstract

Lithium metal batteries have achieved large-scale application, but still have limitations such as poor safety performance and high cost, and limited lithium resources limit the production of lithium batteries. The construction of these devices is also hampered by limited lithium supplies. Therefore, it is particularly important to find alternative metals for lithium replacement. Sodium has the properties of rich in content, low cost and ability to provide high voltage, which makes it an ideal substitute for lithium. Sulfur-based materials have attributes of high energy density, high theoretical specific capacity and are easily oxidized. They may be used as cathodes matched with sodium anodes to form a sodium-sulfur battery. Traditional sodium-sulfur batteries are used at a temperature of about 300 °C. In order to solve problems associated with flammability, explosiveness and energy loss caused by high-temperature use conditions, most research is now focused on the development of room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries. Regardless of safety performance or energy storage performance, room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries have great potential as next-generation secondary batteries. This article summarizes the working principle and existing problems for room temperature sodium-sulfur battery, and summarizes the methods necessary to solve key scientific problems to improve the comprehensive energy storage performance of sodium-sulfur battery from four aspects: cathode, anode, electrolyte and separator.

A Monolithic Solid-State Sodium–Sulfur Battery with Al-Doped Na3.4Zr2(Si0.8P0.2O4)3 Electrolyte

“…11 Hightemperature sodium−sulfur batteries with molten sodium, sulfur electrodes, and solid-alumina electrolyte are currently commercially available. 12,13 The system has obvious advantages in terms of reasonable energy and power density, good stability at high temperature, high efficiency, and long operation life. 12,14 However, the high activity and corrosiveness of molten electrodes under elevated temperature conditions bring serious safety hazards.…”

“…In addition, sulfur is abundant in elemental resources, with much lower price ($150 ton –1 ) than that of LiCoO 2 ($10,000 ton –1 ), so it has attracted much attention. − Lithium–sulfur batteries have made important progress in recent years. , However, the demand for lithium resources has exploded with the rapid development of power vehicles, which will inevitably lead to a shortage of metal lithium resources and a sharp rise in prices. , Similar to the mechanism and performance of lithium–sulfur batteries, lower-cost sodium–sulfur batteries may become a better choice for portable and stationary energy storage . High-temperature sodium–sulfur batteries with molten sodium, sulfur electrodes, and solid-alumina electrolyte are currently commercially available. , The system has obvious advantages in terms of reasonable energy and power density, good stability at high temperature, high efficiency, and long operation life. , However, the high activity and corrosiveness of molten electrodes under elevated temperature conditions bring serious safety hazards. In addition, operation temperatures exceeding 300 °C also require extremely high operating costs.…”

Polysulfide Catalytic Materials for Fast‐Kinetic Metal–Sulfur Batteries: Principles and Active Centers

“…[ 39 ] For Na–S batteries, there are several states, the Na 2 S 8 , Na 2 S 6 , Na 2 S 5 , Na 2 S 4 , and Na 2 S 3 between S 8 and the final discharge product (Na 2 S 2 or Na 2 S). [ 40 ] However, the phase transition process is similar, from insoluble sulfur to soluble high ordered polysulfides and finally to insoluble low ordered polysulfides. Similarly, the conversion between insoluble polysulfides is the most sluggish step.…”

Unveiling the physiochemical aspects of the matrix in improving sulfur-loading for room-temperature sodium–sulfur batteries

“…complicated, the intermediate reaction steps that occur during the reactions are presented below through a series of reactions (eqn (1)-( 4)). 34,36 S 8 + 2Na + + 2e À -Na 2 S 8 (solid-liquid transition; B2.20 V vs. Na/Na + )…”

“…It is evident that an increase in the sulfur loading has a profound impact on the practicality of metal-sulfur battery systems. Several research groups have presented impactful reviews on the Na-S battery; [32][33][34][35] however, this mini-review introduces the key issues and different aspects of the matrix towards the development of a high loading sulfur cathode for RT-Na/S batteries. Particularly, the recent advances with a judicious combination of different composite materials and representative physical and chemical aspects of cathode engineering are summarized, as schematically depicted in Fig.…”