Table 1.

Effects of intermediate LiPSs on cell components and the corresponding strategies for shuttle effect inhibition along the shuttle process in Li–S batteries

Diffusion pathway	Critical issues	Strategies	Concrete methods
Sulfur cathode	Easy detachment of LiPSs from the sulfur hosts and slow kinetics of Li–S chemistry reaction	Physical confinement of LiPSs	✓Preventing the formation of long‐chain LiPSs by microporous structure ✓Impeding LiPSs diffusion by various dimensions of carbon‐based hosts
		Chemical interaction towards LiPSs	✓Adsorbing LiPSs by polar–polar interaction ✓Adsorbing LiPSs by Lewis acid–base interaction ✓Electrocatalysis promotes long‐chain LiPSs conversion
Electrolyte systems	Dissolution of long‐chain LiPSs into electrolyte	Tailoring the composition of liquid electrolytes	✓Reducing the solubility of soluble LiPSs ✓Changing the reaction pathway ✓Regulating the electrolytes concentration
		Using the solid‐state electrolytes	✓Preventing the dissolution and shuttle of LiPSs by utilizing the inorganic solid electrolytes, solid polymer electrolytes, and composite solid electrolytes
Separators	LiPSs permeate through the separators easily and reach the anode surface	Physical shielding effect	✓Working as physical barriers to inhibit LiPSs shuttle ✓Adsorbing the dissociative LiPSs physically ✓Pushing the LiPSs to cathode side by electrostatic repulsion
		Chemical trapping effect	✓Adsorbing LiPSs by polar–polar interaction and Lewis acid–base interaction ✓Electrocatalysis promotes the adsorbed LiPSs conversion
Li anode	Chemical reactions between Li metal and LiPSs to corrode the Li anode	In‐situ SEI Layer	✓Preventing the corrosion of LiPSs to Li anodes by nitrate‐containing, sulfide‐containing, halide‐containing in situ SEI layers
		Artificial protection layer	✓Constructing inorganic, organic, and functional protective layer to avoid the harmful interfacial reaction