Role of Catalytic Materials on Conversion of Sulfur Species for Room Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Battery

Room temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na-S) battery with high theoretical energy density and low cost has spurred tremendous interest, which is recognized as an ideal candidate for large-scale energy storage applications. However, serious sodium polysulfide shutting and sluggish reaction kinetics lead to rapid capacity decay and poor Coulombic efficiency. Recently, catalytic materials capable of adsorbing and catalyzing the conversion of polysulfides are profiled as a promising method to improve electrochemical performance. In this review, the research progress is summarized that the application of catalytic materials in RT Na-S battery. For the role of catalyst on the conversion of sulfur species, specific attention is focused on the influence factors of reaction rate during different redox processes. Various catalytic materials based on lightweight and high conductive carbon materials, including heteroatom-doped carbon, metals and metal compounds, single-atom and heterostructure, promote the reaction kinetic via lowered energy barrier and accelerated charge transfer. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of the catalytic materials is the key to the catalytic effect. Particular attention to the interaction between polysulfides and sulfur host materials is necessary for the exploration of catalytic mechanism. Lastly, the challenges and outlooks toward the desired design of efficient catalytic materials for RT Na-S battery are discussed.