Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries are a promising next-generation energy storage device due to their low cost, high energy density (1274 Wh kg−1), and environmental friendliness. However, RT Na-S batteries face a series of vital challenges from sulfur cathode and sodium anode: (i) sluggish reaction kinetics of S and Na2S/Na2S2; (ii) severe shuttle effect from the dissolved intermediate sodium polysulfides (NaPSs); (iii) huge volume expansion induced by the change from S to Na2S; (iv) continuous growth of sodium metal dendrites, leading to short-circuiting of the battery; (v) huge volume expansion/contraction of sodium anode upon sodium plating/stripping, causing uncontrollable solid-state electrolyte interphase growth and “dead sodium” formation.
