Carbonaceous Sulfur Host for Cathodes in Room-Temperature Metal–Sulfur Batteries

Rechargeable metal–sulfur batteries with low-cost, soil-rich elemental sulfur as the cathode have attracted considerable attention, as they are crucial for working at room temperature due to their high energy density, high output efficiency, and convenient operation. However, the performance is limited by the low utilization of sulfur, severe volume expansion, and shuttle effect of polysulfides. To address these issues, a key strategy is to design carbon materials with excellent conductivity and high specific surface area, preferably with high chemical affinity and high sulfur loading. In this Review, the fundamentals of room-temperature metal–sulfur batteries and the rational design of carbon sulfur carriers are presented, going into the relationship between carbon sulfur hosts and battery performance. Recent developments are highlighted along with potential directions for future research. This comprehensive review aims to provide guidelines for the design of carbonaceous sulfur hosts and promising methods for the development of high-performance room-temperature metal–sulfur battery systems.