Speakers - 2027

Title: Two-dimensional MOF-based materials for lithium–sulfur batteries

Abstract

Two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks (2D MOFs) combine tunable coordination chemistry with ultrathin morphologies, accessible pores, and shortened transport pathways, making them promising materials for addressing several limitations of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs). Although LSBs offer high theoretical specific energy and use abundant sulfur, practical performance remains constrained by the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur and lithium sulfide, sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, significant volume changes, and dissolution and migration of lithium polysulfides. The polysulfide shuttle causes active-material loss, self-discharge, and deterioration of the lithium-metal anode, limiting cycling stability and practical cell performance.

This review critically surveys recent progress in 2D MOF-based materials for LSBs, organizing the field into three major classes: pristine 2D MOFs, materials derived from 2D MOF precursors, and 2D MOF-based composites. It considers preparation strategies and examines how dimensionality, morphology, pore structure, composition, defects, and accessible metal or functional sites influence the resulting properties. The discussion follows the roles of these materials across battery components, including sulfur cathodes, separator coatings, interlayers, electrolyte-related applications, and lithium-metal anode protection.

Particular attention is given to three complementary mechanisms for regulating polysulfides: physical confinement within porous architectures, chemical adsorption at polar or coordinatively active sites, and catalytic promotion of polysulfide conversion. The review also considers the balance among polysulfide retention, reaction kinetics, ion and electron transport, interfacial compatibility, and structural stability. It emphasizes that improvements demonstrated in individual material systems must be assessed against the requirements of complete cells.

Finally, the review identifies practical barriers and future research priorities, including reproducible and scalable synthesis, adequate conductivity and active-site accessibility, stable interfaces, compatibility with realistic electrolyte conditions, and translation from laboratory-scale demonstrations to practical battery configurations. By connecting synthesis routes, structural features, operating mechanisms, and component-level functions, this work offers a framework for comparing 2D MOF-based strategies and guiding the rational design of more stable, efficient, and practical lithium–sulfur batteries.