Enhancing Lithium-Sulfur Battery Performance with MXene: Specialized Structures and Innovative Designs

Established in 1962, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries boast a longer history than commonly utilized lithium-ion batteries counterparts such as LiCoO₂ (LCO) and LiFePO₄ (LFP) series, yet they have been slow to achieve commercialization. This delay, significantly impacting loading capacity and cycle life, stems from the long-criticized low conductivity of the cathode and its byproducts, alongside challenges related to the shuttle effect, and volume expansion. Strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries involve improving the conductivity of the sulfur cathode, employing an adamantane framework as the sulfur host, and incorporating catalysts to promote the transformation of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). 2D MXene and its derived materials can achieve almost all of the above functions due to their numerous active sites, external groups, and ease of synthesis and modification. This review comprehensively summarizes the functionalization advantages of MXene-based materials in Li-S batteries, including high-speed ionic conduction, structural diversity, shuttle effect inhibition, dendrite suppression, and catalytic activity from fundamental principles to practical applications. The classification of usage methods is also discussed. Finally, leveraging the research progress of MXene, the potential and prospects for its novel application in the Li-S field are proposed.