Enhanced polysulfide trapping in Li-S batteries by dipole alignment in ferroelectric BaTiO₃₃

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered a promising option for next-generation energy storage systems due to their superior theoretical capacity (1675 mAh g^-1). However, their practical energy density and cycle life have not met expectations due to the shuttle effect, wherein polysulfides, as intermediate products, dissolve and migrate towards the lithium anode. This shuttle effect results in the loss of sulfur active materials and subsequent degradation of battery performance. To mitigate this issue, we have integrated a ferroelectric BaTiO₃ additive with dipole alignment into the cathode, exploiting its ferroelectric properties to adsorb polysulfides on the sulfur cathode, thereby mitigating the shuttle effect and enhancing battery performance. We have explored the relationship between the degree of dipole alignment in the ferroelectric BaTiO₃ and its effectiveness in polysulfide adsorption. Our research indicates that high dipole alignment correlates with increased surface potential, leading to effective polysulfide adsorption, thus significantly suppressing the shuttle effect and improving long-term battery performance.