| abstract |
A rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur battery cell is provided, the rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur battery cell includes an anode active material layer, an electrolyte, and a cathode active material layer, and the cathode active material layer contains a sulfur-containing material. A plurality of particulates, the sulfur-containing material is selected from the group consisting of sulfur-carbon hybrids, sulfur-graphite hybrids, sulfur-graphene hybrids, conductive polymer-sulfur hybrids, metal sulfides, sulfur compounds, or combinations thereof, and wherein at least one of the microparticles consists of one or more particles of sulfur-containing material surrounded or encapsulated by a thin layer of a highly elastic ultra-high molecular weight polymer having a A recoverable tensile strain of not less than 2%, a lithium ion conductivity of not less than 10-6 S/cm at room temperature, and a thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 μm. This battery exhibits an excellent combination of high sulfur content, high sulfur utilization efficiency, high energy density, and long cycle life. |