Graphene for lithium–sulfur batteries: an odyssey from materials optimization to cell prototype

Abstract The purpose of this perspective article is to showcase the different strategies followed in the last years for the integration of graphene into lithium–sulfur batteries. The article will also disclose the limitations and difficulties found out when trying to scale up graphene-based electrodes and their compatibility with novel electrolytes for the development of pre-industrial pouch cells operating under realistic conditions. Representative works and recent results on the use of graphene for Li-S batteries are included to provide context in the path carried out in the last years, underlining every step forward regarding the benefits of using graphene in this technology. Starting with the first graphene integration approaches within the sulfur-based electrodes, addressing the impact of chemical modifications, and going forward with the development of graphene-based binder-free self-standing aerogels and graphene-carbon composites with optimized performances at coin cell level, a complete evaluation of the different initial strategies is carried out. Further on, the efforts are focused on unraveling the synergistic effects of graphene-based electrodes with tuned electrolyte compositions, and finally the strategies to scale-up the systems to prototype pouch cells are also reviewed.