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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Batteries

Critical Challenges and Recent Advances Toward Practical Room-Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Batteries

  • Zhijiang Su1
  • Simeng Tian2
  • Xuechao Yang3
  • Qi Wang3
  • Jia Chang3
  • Dalong Zhong1
  • Chunwei Dong1
  • Yang Dong1
  • Xiaoxiao Liang4
4 affiliations
  1. 1National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy, Future Science & Technology City, Changping District, Beijing 102209, China
  2. 2School of Textile and Materials Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
  3. 3CHN Energy Yulin Chemical Co., Ltd., Qingshui Coal Chemical Park, Yushen Industrial Zone, Shenfueconomic Development Zone, Yulin 719302, China
  4. 4State Key Laboratory of Tropical Ocean Engineering Materials and Materials Evaluation, School of Marine Technology and Equipment and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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Abstract

Room-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries are gaining renewed interest as a cost-effective, high-energy-density candidate for next-generation storage, owing to their high theoretical specific energy (1274 Wh kg−1) and the earth abundance of sodium. However, their practical application continues to be hampered by persistent challenges such as the polysulfide shuttle effect, uncontrolled growth of sodium (Na) dendrites and electrolyte-induced interfacial instability. This review summarizes recent progress in several key areas: cathode design (including defect engineering, single-atom catalysts, heterostructures), anode interfacial regulation (through SEI/CEI engineering and additive chemistry), and electrolyte formulation (notably localized high-concentration electrolytes and solvation-structure tuning). Although promising results have been achieved at the laboratory scale, critical challenges remain for practical deployment, particularly under high-sulfur-loading and lean-electrolyte conditions, along with fundamental interfacial issues inherent to all-solid-state battery architectures.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{su2026critical,
  title = {{Critical Challenges and Recent Advances Toward Practical Room-Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Batteries}},
  author = {Zhijiang Su and Simeng Tian and Xuechao Yang and Qi Wang and Jia Chang and Dalong Zhong and Chunwei Dong and Yang Dong and Xiaoxiao Liang},
  journal = {Batteries},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3390/batteries12110447},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/12/11/447},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Critical Challenges and Recent Advances Toward Practical Room-Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Batteries
AU  - Zhijiang Su
AU  - Simeng Tian
AU  - Xuechao Yang
AU  - Qi Wang
AU  - Jia Chang
AU  - Dalong Zhong
AU  - Chunwei Dong
AU  - Yang Dong
AU  - Xiaoxiao Liang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/01
JO  - Batteries
DO  - 10.3390/batteries12110447
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/12/11/447
AB  - Room-temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries are gaining renewed interest as a cost-effective, high-energy-density candidate for next-generation storage, owing to their high theoretical specific energy (1274 Wh kg−1) and the earth abundance of sodium. However, their practical application continues to be hampered by persistent challenges such as the polysulfide shuttle effect, uncontrolled growth of sodium (Na) dendrites and electrolyte-induced interfacial instability. This review summarizes recent progress in several key areas: cathode design (including defect engineering, single-atom catalysts, heterostructures), anode interfacial regulation (through SEI/CEI engineering and additive chemistry), and electrolyte formulation (notably localized high-concentration electrolytes and solvation-structure tuning). Although promising results have been achieved at the laboratory scale, critical challenges remain for practical deployment, particularly under high-sulfur-loading and lean-electrolyte conditions, along with fundamental interfacial issues inherent to all-solid-state battery architectures.
SN  - 2313-0105
ER  -