Lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries are a promising candidate for next generation batteries because they offer an up to eight times higher energy density of 2600 Wh/kg than conventional lithium ion batteries (300 Wh/kg). In addition sulfur is an abundant, low-cost and non-critical material elevating many of the problems of current lithium ion batteries. However, Li-S batteries come with their unique set of challenges. The so-called sulfur shuttle represents one of the major problems. Sulfur and the polysulfides, generated during the discharge, dissolve in common electrolytes and start shuttling between the electrodes leading to degradation of the batterie. [1]
This problem is addressed through a special electrolyte in combination with an artificial, self-healing SEI on the metallic lithium anode leading to increased lifetimes and performance in comparison with standard electrolytes.

[1] Y. Yi, F. Hai, J. Guo, X. Tian, S. Zheng, Z. Wu, T. Wang, M. Li, Batteries 2023, 9, 27.