Recent advances and perspectives in conductive-polymer-based composites as cathode materials for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered one of the most promising next-generation energy storage technologies because of their high theoretical energy density (2600 W h kg−1). However, the low electrical conductivity of sulfur and the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides during cycling lead to inferior cycling performance, limiting the commercial application of Li–S batteries. The introduction of conductive polymers (CPs) into the sulfur cathode is regarded as one of the most effective methods to solve these problems and has received considerable attention in recent years. In this review, the structures and properties of common CPs used in Li–S batteries, consisting of polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polythiophene, are presented. Furthermore, recent advances are summarized for CP-based cathodes used in Li–S batteries, and the relationship between their microstructure and electrochemical performance is discussed. In addition, some personal prospects for the future development of CP-based cathodes for Li–S batteries are proposed.