Title: Structural Elucidation and Reaction Regulation of Lithium Polysulfides in HighEnergyDensity LithiumSulfur Batteries

Speaker: Prof. Boquan Li (Beijing Institute of Technology)

Invited by: Prof. Zhenxing Liang

Time: November 4, 2026 (Wednesday), 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Venue: Room 804, Building B13, University Town Campus

Organizer: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Biography

 Boquan Li is Professor and doctoral supervisor at the Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Beijing Institute of Technology, and a recipient of the Young TopNotch Talent under the National Special Support Program for HighLevel Talents (TenThousand Talents Program). His research focuses on energychemistry mechanisms of highenergydensity lithiumsulfur batteries, electrodeelectrolyte materials, and the development of practical devices. He has published more than 100 papers in journals including Nature Chemical Engineering, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, and Advanced Materials, among which 54 are ESI highlycited papers. His publications have accumulated over 30 000 citations with an Hindex of 100. He was awarded the First Prize of the Natural Science Award (2nd contributor) by the Chinese Society of Particuology. He has presided over multiple projects including key R&D tasks of the Ministry of Science and Technology, cultivation projects and general programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He serves on the editorial board of Journal of Energy Chemistry (JEC) and has been selected as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher.

 Abstract

 Lithiumsulfur batteries represent an important secondarybattery system capable of achieving energy densities above 500 Wh/kg. Taking lithium polysulfides as the research subject, this presentation focuses on how their ionicsolvation structure influences reaction thermodynamics and kinetics. Specifically, a phaseequilibrium analytical method is proposed to quantify the stoichiometric ratio of sulfurcathode reactions. A contactcorrosion mechanism for lithium anodes is put forward to illustrate the chemical principles behind heterogeneous lithiummetal deposition. A design strategy for weaklysolvated electrolytes with lithium polysulfides is further proposed. While protecting the lithiummetal anode, a positiveelectrode kineticenhancement strategy is additionally introduced, enabling the fabrication of lithiumsulfur pouchcell devices with high energy density and long cycle life.

 Announced by School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.