Author(s)

ShuYu Cheng

Affiliation(s)

Strait Institute of Flexible Electronics (SIFE, Future Technologies), Fujian Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Fujian Normal University and Strait Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (SLoFE), Fuzhou 350117, Fujian, China.

Corresponding Author

ShuYu Cheng

ABSTRACT

Lithium-sulfur batteries, with ultrahigh energy density(2600 Wh kg^-1) and cost efficiency, face critical challenges hindering commercialization: poor conductivity of S/Li₂S, polysulfide shuttling, Li dendrite growth, and severe volume expansion. Functionalized separators emerge as a pivotal solution, integrating ion-sieving architectures, catalytic conversion, electrostatic repulsion, and chemisorption to suppress polysulfide migration while ensuring Li⁺ transport. Advanced materials-carbon-based frameworks(graphene, CNTs), conductive polymers(PPy, PANI), porous MOFs/COFs, and inorganic compounds (transition metal oxides/sulfides)—synergistically enhance conductivity, anchor polysulfides, and accelerate redox kinetics. Heteroatom doping and heterostructure designs optimize adsorption and catalytic activity, achieving capacities >900 mAh g^-1 and cyclability >1000 cycles. Flexible architectures demonstrate practical viability under mechanical stress. Future priorities include scalable fabrication of ultrathin separators, multifunctional integration (polysulfide suppression, dendrite inhibition), and compatibility with high-sulfur-loading cathodes. Bridging lab-scale innovations to industrial deployment requires harmonizing material design, electrolyte optimization, and advanced characterization to address interfacial instability and energy loss mechanisms.

KEYWORDS

Lithium-sulfur batteries; Functionalized separators; Polysulfide shuttling; Catalytic conversion

CITE THIS PAPER

ShuYu Cheng. Functionalized separators for lithium-sulfur batteries: mechanisms, materials, and performance optimization. Chemical Innovation & Technology. 2025, 2(1): 9-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/cit3004.

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