Assessing the practical feasibility of solid-state lithium–sulfur batteries

Abstract Compared to current lithium-ion batteries, solid-state lithium–sulfur batteries (SSLSBs) promise significantly enhanced energy density and improved safety, rendering them attractive for applications such as electric vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and wearable devices. This review transcends the conventional material-centric perspective, analyzing the application feasibility of SSLSBs while particularly emphasizing the challenges and corresponding solution strategies in their potential applications. Key obstacles include achieving high power and rapid charging, enhancing cycle life, and maximizing practical energy density at the device level. Technological breakthroughs encompass novel materials, structural design, and interface engineering, with particular emphasis on the importance of considering inactive components in pouch cell when evaluating energy density. This review also discusses the patent landscape and industrialization progress of SSLSBs, highlighting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence as a crucial driving force for accelerating the development of SSLSBs and industrialization, and provides strategic research recommendations to facilitate the practical applications of this promising energy storage technology.