Li-S batteries, what's next?

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have undergone a dramatic transition in the last two decades. Research has evolved from tackling more fundamental challenges associated with the chemistry of sulfur, such as the polysulfide shuttle effect and the low conductivity of sulfur, via cathode engineering to solving the technical challenges associated with making practical high-energy batteries, such as lowering the electrolyte amount and stabilizing the Li-metal anode. This level of technology readiness has even encouraged several companies to seriously consider the Li-S technology viable for commercialization. With the view that both academia and industry are closer to the pursuit of developing practical Li-S cells for consumer use, we highlight in this commentary some avenues for solving both the remaining technical challenges as well as scale-up and manufacturing challenges.