Functionalized Polyolefin Separators for Lithium/Sulfur Batteries

The growing demand for portable appliances and electric vehicles has drawn extensive attention to the development of advanced energy storage/conversion systems. In this regard, lithium/sulfur batteries have emerged as the next-generation advanced energy storage/conversion devices owing to their superior energy density, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly. However, the unsatisfactory sulfur utilization, poor cyclability and rate capability due to sulfur’s insulating properties, and the polysulfide shuttle effect become major barriers to the practical application of these battery systems. Numerous approaches, such as functionalizing the conventional separators, have been investigated and have shown promising results in resolving these problems. In this regard, the use of functional polyolefin separators has been demonstrated as a successful strategy to address the aforementioned issues with lithium/sulfur batteries. This method has persuaded that the use of functional polyolefin separators improves the drawbacks of these battery systems with improved safety, cyclability, rate capability, and mechanical stability. In this chapter, the most recent developments in functional polyolefin separators—including functional separators facing both cathodes and anodes—as well as their future prospects are covered.